UC-NRLF 


E7S 


LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Accession          90215         Cla"- 


POOLE  BROS' 


CELESTIAL  HANDBOOK 


COMPANION  TO  THEIR 


CELESTIAL  PLANISPHERE. 


COMPILED    AND    EDITED    BY 


JULES  A.  COLAS. 


ILLUSTRATED 


CHICAGO: 

I  Soft. 

V 


Astron.  Dwpt. 


COPTBIGHTED  1891.  BY  POOLE  BROS  ,  CHICAGO. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Introductory v 

Constellations  North  of  the  Zodiac 1 

Zodiacal  Constellations 42 

Constellations  South  of  the  Zodiac 67 

Old  and  New  Constellations  in  Chronological  Order 92 

Names  of  the  Principal  Stars 95 

The  Principal  Binary  Stars % 

The  Finest  Double  Stars ' 97 

Stars  for  which  a  Parallax  has  been  found 98 

Stars  of  Greatest  Proper  Motion 98 

Shooting  Stars— Star-showers 99 

Comets 101 

The  Planets 102 

Index  of  Illustrations 105 

General  Index...  I07toli0 


Plate  I.    The  Southern  Constellations - 66 

Plate  II.    The  Constellations End  of  the  Book 


90215 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


INTRODUCTORY. 


We  can  not  do  better  in  introducing  our  Handbook  than  to  quote  from 
Richard  A.  Proctor's  "  Half  Hours  with  the  Stars"  the  following  lines: 

"  It  is  very  easy  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  stars,  if  the  learner  sets  to  work  in  the  proper 
manner,  but  he  commonly  meets  with  a  difficulty  at  the  outset  of  this  task.  He  provides  him- 
self with  a  set  of  the  ordinary  star-maps  and  then  finds  himself  at  a  loss  how  to  make  use  of 
them.  Such  maps  tell  him  nothing  of  the  position  of  the  constellations  on  the  j/fey.  If  he  hap- 
pen to  recognize  a  constellation,  then,  indeed,  his  maps,  if  properly  constructed,  will  tell  him 
the  names  of  the  stars  forming  the  constellation,  and,  also,  he  may  be  able  to  recognize  a  few  of 
the  neighboring  constellations.  But  when  he  has  done  this  he  may  meet  with  a  new  difficulty, 
even  as  respects  this  very  constellation.  For  if  he  look  for  it  again  some  months  later,  he  will 
neither  find  it  in  its  former  place  nor  will  it  present  the  same  aspect,  if,  indeed,  it  happen  to  be 
above  the  horizon  at  all." 

The  object  of  our  planisphere  is  to  show  the  aspect  of  the  heavens  as  it 
really  is  at  any  moment  by  setting  it  properly  in  position  for  the  time  of 
observation,  and  no  matter  how  large  a  constellation  is  it  can  be  found  very 
easily  by  simply  turning  the  movable  part  a  little  one  way  or  the  other ;  its 
great  advantage  over  the  ordinary  star-maps  is  the  facility  afforded  to  the 
student  to  find  the  position  and  the  character  of  the  constellation  that  he  is 
looking  for,  at  any  time,  and  to  save  the  trouble  of  trying  to  find  one  which 
may  not  be  above  the  horizon  at  the  moment. 

It  contains  nearly  all  the  stars  visible  to  the  naked  eye  from  our  latitude; 
also  the  principal  curiosities  accessible  to  common  telescopes. 

The  immense  distance  which  separates  the  stars  from  our  solar  system 
leaves  no  room  to  doubt  that  they  are. .?#».?  like  our  own.  Seen  from  Sirius, 
the  earth,  the  moon  and  the  sun  will  appear  as  a  spot  only,  and  the  thickness 
of  a  hair  will  eclipse  them  entirely.  The  earth's  motion  around  the  sun  brings 
us  184,000,000  miles  nearer  to  certain  stars  than  they  are  six  months  after,  but 
this  distance,  which  seems  so  great,  does  not  increase  the  apparent  magni- 
tude of  any  of  them. 

The  planets  such  as  Venus,  Jupiter,  Saturn,  etc.,  when  seen  through  the 
telescope,  present  a  certain  diameter,  and  on  their  surface  some  details  can  be 
seen— they  appear  so  much  larger  and  nearer  to  us  according  to  the  power  of 
the  instruments.  This  is  not  the  case  with  the  stars;  they  are  so  far  from  us 
that  the  most  powerful  instruments  fail  to  produce  an  apparent  diameter;  they 
only  appear  more  brilliant,  but  not  larger;  on  the  contrary,  the  stronger  the 
instrument  the  smaller  the  apparent  diameter;  consequently  it  must  be  well 
understood  that  what  is  called  the  magnitude  of  a  star  is  not  ifr  ran,- but  its 
brightness;  a  star  invisible  to  the  naked  eye  may  be  very  near  to  us;  1830 
Groombridge ',  for  example  (see  Ursa  Major  notes),  and  a  bright  star  like  Rigel, 
in  the  Constellation  Orion,  which  offers  no  parallax,  must  be  very  far  from  us. 

The  most  conspicuous  are  called  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  ;  the  next 
in  brilliancy  are  stars  of  the  second  magnitude  ;  the  next,  of  the  third 
magnitude,  etc. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


..T.he.£tars  -comprised  between  the  first  and  the  sixth  magnitude  are  visible 
to  the  naked  eye  on  a  clear  night ;  but  a  telescope  of  large  power  reveals  the 
stars  down  to  the  twentieth  magnitude. 

From  one  magnitude  to  another  there  is  quite  a  difference  in  brightness,, 
and  the  astronomers  have  divided  them  into  tenths;  consequently  a  star  of 
2.9  magnitude  is  very  near  like  a  star  of  the  third  magnitude;  but  from  one 
class  to  another  there  is  the  same  difference  in  brightness. 

The  following  table  is  taken  from  Mr.  G.  Hermite's  article  on  the  "Deter- 
mination of  the  Number  of  Stars  of  Our  Universe:" 


Magnitudes. 

Total  number  of  stars 
of  each  magnitude. 

Number  of  stars  of  each 
magnitude  necessary 
to  equal  one  star  of 
first  magnitude. 

Number  of  stars  of  first  mag- 
nitude necessary  to  produce 
the  same  amount  of  light 
as  total  number  of  stars  of 
corresponding  magnitude. 

1 

20 

1 

20 

2 

59 

2.56 

23.046 

3 

182 

6.55 

27.771 

4 

530 

16.78 

31.59 

5 

1,600 

42.95 

37.243 

6 

4,800 

109.96 

43.65 

7 

13,000 

281.68 

46.15 

8 

40,000 

721.09 

55.47 

9 

100,000 

1,846.99 

54.17 

10 

400,000 

4,726.75 

84.64 

11 

1,000,000 

12,098.9 

82.65 

12 

3,000,000 

30,870.6 

97.18 

13 

10,000,000 

79,028.8 

126.53 

14 

30,000,000 

202,314 

148.28 

15 

*90,876,411 

517,923 

*175.4 

16 

272,629,233 

1,323,513 

205.9 

17 

817,887,699 

3,388,175 

241.3 

18 

2,453,663,097 

8,673,738 

282.8 

19 

-      7,360,989,291 

22,204,745 

331.5 

20 

22,082,967,873 

56,844,147 

388.8 

*  The  figures  from  the  first  to  the  fourteenth  magnitude  are  given  from  direct  observations ; 
from  the  fifteenth  to  the  twentieth  magnitude  the  figures  have  been  calculated. 

The  first  column  represents  the  magnitudes;  the  second  column,  the  num- 
ber of  stars  of  each  magnitude;  the  third  column,  the  number  of  stars  of  each 
magnitude  necessary  to  produce  the  same  luminous  intensity  that  one  star  of 
the  first  magnitude  does;  the  fourth  column,  the  number  of  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude  necessary  to  produce  the  same  amount  of  light  as  the  total  number 
of  stars  of  the  corresponding  magnitudes;  for  instance,  the  1,600  stars  of  the 
fifth  magnitude  produce  the  same  light  as  about  37  of  the  first  magnitude,  and 
22,082,967,873  of  the  twentieth  magnitude  produce  about  the  same  light  as  389 
of  the  first  magnitude.  It  requires  about  43  stars  of  the  fifth  magnitude  to 
produce  the  same  light  as  one  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  and  of  the  twentieth 
magnitude  it  requires  56,845,000  stars  to  produce  the  same  result. 

According  to  W.  Herschel  the  full  moon  gives  the  same  light  as  27,408  stars 
of  the  first  magnitude,  and  the  total  amount  of  light  produced  by  all  the  stars 
is  equal  to  only  one-tenth  of  the  light  produced  by  the  full  moon,  or  equal  to  the 
light  of  2740.8  stars  of  the  first  magnitude.  By  progressive  calculations  Mr.  G. 
Hermite  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  total  number  of  stars  of  our  universe 
is  equal  to  66,000,000,000  (66  billions).  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1886;  pages  406-412.) 


INTRODUCTORY. 


vli 


In  comparing  the  photometrical  measures  of  John  Herschel,  Langier, 
Secchi,  Seidel  and  Trepied,  the  twenty  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  came  in 
the  following  order: 


STARS. 

INTENSITY 
OF  LIGHT. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

STARS. 

INTENSITY 
OF  LIGHT. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

Sirius 

400 

0  25 

Aldebaran  

46 

1.6 

200 

0  5 

Antares 

45 

1    6 

a  (Alpha)  Centauri  
Arcturus  
Vejra 

100 
75 
72 

1.0 

1.2 
1.2 

/3  (Beta)  Centauri  
a  (Alpha)  Crux  
Altair  

45 
44 
43 

.6 

.7 
.7 

Rigel 

68 

1  3 

Spica.  .              

41 

.8 

Capella                    

63 

1.3 

Fomalliaut  

41 

.8 

Procvon  
Betelgeuse                 ...  . 

58 
50 

1.4 
1.5 

/3  (Beta)  Crux  
Regulus  

40 
40 

.8 
.9 

48 

1  6 

Pollux 

38 

1  9 

This  plainly  shows  that  the  light  coming  from  Sirius  is  four  times  stronger 
than  the  light  of  a  (alpha]  Centauri,  and  ten  times  stronger  than  the  light  of 
Regulus. 

Father  Secchi  divided  the  stars  at  first  into  three  classes  ;  later,  however, 
into  four,  according  to  the  nature  of  their  spectra. 

FIRST   CLASS  —  WHITE   STARS. 

The  white  stars  offer  a  continuous  spectrum  (Fig.  I),  in  which  appear 
several  fine  black  lines.  The  great  extension  of  the  blue  and  violet  portions 
of  the  spectrum  indicates  a  high  temperature  ;  the  lines  produced  by  the 
vapors  of  iron,  magnesium,  sodium,  etc.,  are  very  faint  and  hard  to  distinguish. 
On  the  contrary,  the  four  lines  of  hydrogen  are  very  prominent:  they  are  the 
lines  C,  in  the  red;  F,  in  the  greenish-blue;  G',  in  the  blue,  and  h,  in  the  violet. 
The  white  stars  form  about  60  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  stars,  among 
them  Sirius,  Vega,  Rigel,  Altair,  Regulus,  75  Pegasi,  etc. 

SECOND   CLASS  —  YELLOW   STARS. 

The  spectra  of  the  yellow  stars  (Fig.  II)  are  characterized  by  a  great 
number  of  black  lines  well  defined,  and  corresponding  to  the  vapors  of  our 
different  metals.  The  lines  of  iron,  magnesium,  cobalt,  chrome,  sodium,  etc., 
are  identified  without  doubt;  the  blue  and  violet  portions  are  not  so  intense  as 
in  the  white  stars,  and  this  accounts  for  their  yellow  coloration.  The  lines  of 
hydrogen  exist  also,  but  less  defined.  The  yellow  stars  form  about  35  per 
cent  of  the  total  number  of  the  stars.  Our  Sun,  Aldebaran,  Capella,  Arcturus, 
a  (alpha)  Bootis,  70  Ophiuchi,  etc.,  belong  to  this  class.  These  stars  have  most 
likely  commenced  to  cool  off. 

THIRD   CLASS  — REDDISH   STARS. 

In  the  spectra  of  this  class,  the  blue  and  violet  portions  are  very  feeble; 
the  lines  of  hydrogen  are  generally  absent,  and  it  presents,  near  the  ordinary 
lines,  some  lines  of  absorption  that  give  to  the  spectrum  a  fluted  appearance 
(Fig.  III).  These  bands  or  flutings  always  shade  from  the  blue  towards  the 
red.  These  reddish  stars  form  about  5  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  stars; 
among  them  are  a  (alpha)  Herculis,  Antares,  Betelgeuse,  R.  Leonis,  U.  Virginis, 
etc.  These  stars  are  most  likely  still  further  advanced  in  the  cooling  process. 
There  are  also  some  telescopic  stars  of  a  very  dark  red  ;  they  are  most  likely 
suns  in  an  advanced  state  of  oxidation. 

FOURTH    CLASS. 

This  includes  a  small  number  of  stars  having  also  a  fluted  spectrum,  but 
with  the  sharp  edges  of  the  bands  turned  towards  the  red.  Most  stars  of  this 
class  show  bright  lines,  e.  g.  152  Schjellentp. 


viii 


INTRODUCTORY. 


[fc 


INTRODUCTORY.  ix 


When  you  look  through  a  telescope  and  see  a  star  near  another,  it  is  not  a 
proof  that  it  is  a  double  star ;  it  may  be  an  optical  illusion,  and  the  two  stars  are 
sometimes  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other  and  do  not  form  a  physical  system. 
It  is  only  by  several  years  of  patient  and  careful  observations  that  they  are  rec- 
ognized as  having  the  same  motion  or  as  revolving  around  each  other  ;  there- 
fore it  is  only  those  which  sometimes  show  two,  three,  four  or  more  stars  in  close 
proximity  to  each  other  that  we  call  double  stars,  triple  stars,  quadruple  stars t  etc. 

Of  this  class  of  stars  those  revolving  around  each  other  in  regular  orbits 
are  known  as  binary  stars,  trinary  stars,  etc. 

Let  Figure  IV  represent  a  triple  star  as  seen  with  a  tele- 
scope. A,  B  and  C  are  called  the  components,  B  and  C  are 
the  companions  of  A. 

A  great  number  of  stars  are  subject  to  periodical  changes 
of  brilliancy  and  are  called  variable  stars.  The  temporary  or 
irregular  stars  are  those  that  have  occasionally  burst  forth  in 

Fig.  IV.  the  heavens  with  a  brilliancy  far  surpassing  the  stars  of  first 

magnitude,  in  some  instances  remaining  thus  for  a  short  period  and  then 
gradually  fading  away. 

The  fixed  stars  are  not  all  of  them  stationary;  in  fact,  very  few,  if  any,  are 
fixed.  In  comparing  their  location  at  different  times  it  was  found  that  a  great 
number  of  them  have  a  proper  motion  in  the  heavens;  we  have  noted  only 
those  which  offer  the  greatest  motion. 

In  many  places  in  the  heavens  there  appear  some  faint  luminous  spots  shin- 
ing with  a  generally  white,  pale  light;  they  are  called  nebulce  ;  some  can  be  dis- 
tinguished with  the  naked  eye,  but  most  of  them  require  the  aid  of  the  telescope. 

The  clusters  are  nebulce  which  are  easily  resolved  into  stars. 

The  nebulce  proper  offer  no  appearance  of  stars,  and  are  supposed  to  be 
masses  of  nebulous  matter;  in  some  of  them  gases  have  been  found  through 
the  spectroscope  and  their  nature  determined. 

The  planetary  nebulce  are  those  offering  an  appearance  similar  to  the  planets; 
they  are  round,  of  equal  light,  and  their  outline  is  perfectly  defined;  some  of 
them  have  been  resolved  into  stars,  but  it  requires  telescopes  of  great  power. 

The  stellar  nebulce  are  much  condensed  at  the  center,  and  offer  the  appear- 
ance of  a  star  seen  through  the  surrounding  nebulous  mass. 

The  nebulous  stars  are  stars  distinctly  seen  to  be  such,  surrounded  by  their 
nebulous  atmospheres;  they  are  very  likely  stellar  nebulae  in  a  more  advanced 
state  of  progressive  condensation. 

If  two  straight  lines  AB,  AC  (Fig.  V) 
meet  each  other  at  A,  they  form  what  is 
called  an  angle,  and  the  distances  be- 
tween AB  and  AC  at  any  two  points  are 
proportionate  to  the  distance  of  these  f 
two  points  from  the  intersection  A. 

An  angle  does  not  change  with  the  distance;  one  degree  on  a  sheet  of 
paper  or  one  degree  on  the  sky  is  always  one  degree;  in  a  circumference  of  one 
inch  in  diameter,  or  one  mile  in  diameter,  or  one  million  of  miles  or  ten  mil- 
lions of  miles  in  diameter,  a  certain  angle  drawn  from  the  center  always 
intersects  the  same  proportion  of  the  circumference. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


57 

114 

570 

3,438 

6,875 

10,313 


One  degree  is  the  sfa  part  of  a  circumference,  and  is  marked  1° 
One  minute  is  the  eV  part  of  a  degree,  and  is  marked  1' 
One  second  is  the  eV  part  of  a  minute,  and  is  marked  l" 
3°  45'  31"  means  3  degrees,  45  minutes  and  31  seconds. 

An  angle  of  l  degree  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  ..................... 

"          yz  degree,  or  30  minutes,  corresponds  to  a  distance  of.  .. 

"         iV  degree,  or  6  minutes,  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  ..... 

"  l  minute  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  .................... 

"          yz  minute,  or  30  seconds,  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  .  .. 

"          20  seconds  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  .................. 

"          10  seconds  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  .................. 

"  1  second  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  ...................      206,265 

"          0"9  corresponds  to  a  distance  of  ...........................      229,183 

0"8  "  ...........................       257,830 

0"7  "  ...........................       294,664 

0"6  "  ...........................       343,750 

0"5  "  ...........................       412,530 

0"4  "  ..........................       515,660 

0"3  "  ...........................  687,500 

"  0"2  "  ...........................    1,031,320 

0"!  ...........................  2,062,650 

"          0"0  "  immeasurable. 

The  above  table  indicates  the  distances  corresponding  to 
certain  angles,  and  when  we  know  the  angle,  we  know  the 
distance  corresponding  to  it. 

We  can  not  insist  too  strongly  on  the  importance  of  a  clear 
understanding  of  what  an  angle  is,  for  the  very  reason  that  it 
is  the  base  of  all  astronomical  observations. 

One  degree  is  one  inch  seen  at  the  distance  of  57  inches. 
One  minute  is  one  inch  seen  at  the  distance  of  3,438  inches. 
One  second  is  one  inch  seen  at  the  distance  of  206,265  inches. 

If  we  were  using  one  foot  or  one  mile  or  any  other 
measure  instead  of  an  inch  the  same  rule  would  apply. 

In  the  case  of  the  stars  the  standard  measure  is  one-half 
the  diameter  of  the  earth's  orbit,  or  92,000,000  miles. 

The  parallax  of  a  star  is  the  greatest  angle  that  can  be 
subtended  by  the  radius  or  half  the  diameter  of  the  earth's 
orbit  as  seen  from  the  star  in  question.  In  Figure  VI  let  S 
be  the  sun,  ES  the  radius  of  the  earth's  orbit,  and  A  the 
position  of  a  star,  the  angle  EAS  is  the  parallax. 

As  the  mean  radius  of  the  earth's  orbit  is  equal  to 
92,000,000  miles,  when  we  know  the  parallax  of  a  star,  it  is 
very  easy  to  find  its  distance;  if  a  star  has  a  parallax  of  o"5, 
for  example,  in  referring  to  the  table  above  it  shows  that£ 
the  distance  of  this  star  from  us  is  412,530  times  92,000,000 
miles,  or  37  trillions  952  billions  760  millions  of  miles.* 


Fig.  VI. 


NOTE.— The  distance  of  a  star  is  obtained  by  this  formula: 

206,265  R. 


R  is  the  radius  of  the  earth's  orbit  and  P  the  parallax  of  the  star. 

The  number  of  years  necessary  for  the  light  to  come  from  a  star  to  us  is  given  by  this  formula: 

3.262 

P 
3.262  is  the  number  of  years  corresponding  to  a  parallax  of  one  second,  and  P  is  the  parallax  of  the  star. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


xi 


Let  Fig.  VII  represent  a  celestial  sphere  and  S  a  star;  the  declination  is 
the  distance,  SB,  from  the  star  to  the  equator  measured  on  the  great  circle, 
PBP' ;  it  is  north  declination  or  south  declination  according  to  the  position  of 
the  star  in  regard  to  the  equator.  If  the  distance  SB  =  19°  45',  declination  +19° 
45'  indicates  that  the  star  is  19  degrees 
45  minutes  north  of  the  equator;  declina- 
tion— 19°  45'  indicates  that  the  star  is  19 
degrees  45  minutes  south  of  the  equator. 

The  right  ascension  of  a  star  is  the 
distance,  OB  (measured  on  the  equator), 
between  the  vernal  equinox,  O,  and  the 
declination  circle,  PBP';  it  is  sometimes 
expressed  in  degrees,  but  generally  in 
time;  the  right  ascension  is  always 
measured  toward  the  EAST  according  to 
the  apparent  motion  of  the  sun  among 
the  constellations ;  if  B  is  at  2  hours  and  1 5 
minutes  from  O,  the  position  of  the  star 
S  is  exactly  determined,  and  is  marked 
thus:  R.  A.=2h.  15111.;  Decl.=+i9°  45'- 

The  sun  does  not  cross  the  equator 
at  the  same  point  every  year. 

Hipparchus,  127  years  B.  C.,  in  observing  Spica  and  Regulus  and  in  com- 
paring the  positions  of  these  stars  with  the  positions  given  by  the  Babylonian 
astronomers  2,120  years  B.  C.,  noticed  a  difference  of  28  degrees  for  2,000  years; 
the  equinoctial  point  shifts  50  "3  along  the  equator  every  year,  and  all  the  stars 
move  from  west  to  east,  describing  a  complete  circle  in  a  period  of  25,765  years. 

This  motion  is  known  as  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes.     Two  thousand 

years  ago  the  sun  was  in  the  constellation  Aries        ^~- --,. 

at  the  time  of  the  vernal  equinox;  now,  on  the    /  N 

2ist  of  March,  it  is  in  the  constellation  Pisces. 

The  right  ascension  of  a  star,  or  the  distance 
of  a  star  to  the  meridian  of  the  vernal  equinox,  is 
augmented  a  little  more  than  three  seconds  in 
time  every  year  by  the  precession. 

The  spinning  of  a  top  gives  a  very  fair  repre- 
sentation of  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes.  The 
axis  of  the  top,  Fig.  VIII,  describes  a  cone,  ABC, 
and  the  point  B,  which  represents  the  celestial 
pole,  describes  a  complete  circle  in  25,765  years; 
that  is  why  the  celestial  pole  changes  every  year; 
why  a  (alpha],  in  the  constellation  Ursa  Minor,  is 
now  the  pole  star  and  will  be  nearest  to  the  pole 
in  the  year  2105. 

In  Fig.  IX  the  plain  line  represents  the  classical  circle  described  by  the 
celestial  pole  by  the  effects  of  the  precession;  but  as  the  solar  system  is  going 
toward  the  constellation  of  Hercules,  M.  Flammarion  has  indicated  a  dotted 
spire  which  represents  the  probable  position  of  the  celestial  pole,  due  to  this 
motion,  for  a  period  of  28,000  years.  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1886;  page  401.) 


A 
Fig.  VIII. 


xii 


INTRODUCTORY. 


In  looking  at  this  diagram  it  will  be  seen  that  «  (alpha),  in  constellation 
Draco,  was  polar  star  2,700  years  B.  C.;  *  (iota),  of  the  same  constellation,  was 
polar  star  4,500  years  B.  C.;  y  (gamma},  in  Cepheus,  will  be  polar  star  in  about 
2,600  years  from  now;  a  (alpha),  of  the  same  constellation,  will  be  the  pole  star 
in  7500  A.  D.;  it  will  be  8  (delta),  in  constellation  Cygnus,  in  11300  A.  D.;  and 
the  nice  star  Vega  was  polar  star  12,200  years  B.  C.  and  will  be  in  13,000  years 
from  now. 


Fig.  IX.— Diagram  showing  the  position  of  the  Celestial  Pole  for-6,000  years  B.  C.  and  28,000  years  A.  D. 

The  pole  of  ecliptic  is  in  the  constellation  Draco. 

In  our  notes  of  each  constellation  will  be  found  a  short  explanation  of  all 
curiosities,  which  will  be  of  great  interest  to  beginners;  also  how  to  find  them 
when  they  do  not  appear  on  our  planisphere. 

We  have  noted  the  principal  double  stars  with  the  distance  and  magnitude 
of  their  components  ;  also  the  triple,  quadruple  and  multiple  stars  in  the 
same  way. 


INTRODUCTORY.  xiii 


The  time  of  revolution  of  binaries  is  also  given  from  the  latest  authorities; 
the  parallaxes  of  the  nearest  stars  and  their  distances  to  the  earth  have  also 
received  particular  attention;  the  names  of  observers  and  the  dates  of  obser- 
vation have  been  given  whenever  accessible. 

The  temporary  stars  have  also  been  described  in  the  constellations  in 
which  they  appeared,  and  their  changes  of  magnitude  and  their  position  given 
as  far  as  possible. 

Our  catalogue  for  each  constellation  is  the  same  as  the  general  catalogue 
of  C.  Flammarion,  "  Les  Etoiles;"  it  contains  all  the  stars  visible  to  the  naked 
eye ;  the  stars  of  the  sixth  magnitude  having  a  Greek  or  Latin  letter;  the 
principal  variables;  the  stars  whose  distances  have  been  found,  and  those 
remarkable  for  their  colors;  the  principal  double,  triple,  quadruple,  etc.,  stars; 
also  the  principal  clusters  and  nebulae.  For  the  double  stars  Mr.  Burnham's 
catalogues  were  consulted. 

Bayer's  Greek  letters  have  been  given  the  preference;  next,  Flamsteed's 
letters,  thus:  Fl.  5;  also  Piazzi's  Horal  numbers,  thus:  P.  XIV,  260;  some  stars 
of  the  British  Association  Catalogue  also  appear,  thus:  B.  A.  C.  1800;  when 
other  catalogues  have  been  used  the  names  of  the  authors  appear.  Hev.  is  for 
Hevelius;  Radcl.  for  Radcliffe;  2  for  Struve;  02  for  Otto  Struve;  Lai.  for 
Lalande;  Lac.  for  Lacaille. 

Dbl.  double;  bin.  binary;  trip,  triple;  trin.  trinary;  qdl.  quadruple,  etc. 
V  after  the  magnitude  indicates  the  maximum  of  magnitude  of  a  variable;  M. 
before  a  nebula  refers  to  Messier's  catalogue;  H.  IV,  8,  means  Herschel's 
nebula  number  8,  volume  IV;  neb.  nebula;  cl.  cluster. 

The  colors  of  the  stars  are  denoted  thus:  Orange,  org.;  yellow,  yel.,  etc. 

When  we  say  for  example,  e  (theta)  Virginis  is  triple;  magnitudes  4.5-9 
and  10;  distances,  7"  and  65",  it  means  that  the  star  e  (theta}  seen  through  the 
telescope  consists  of  three  stars;  the  first  one  of  the  4.5  magnitude;  the  second 
of  the  Qth  magnitude,  and  the  third  of  the  loth  magnitude;  and  that  the  star  of 
the  9th  magnitude  is  at  a  distance  corresponding  to  seven  seconds  from  the  star 
of  the  4.5  magnitude;  and  the  star  of  the  loth  magnitude  is  at  a  distance  corre- 
sponding to  one  minute  and  five  seconds  from  the  star  of  the  4.5  magnitude. 

The  diagrams  of  the  double  or  multiple  stars  are  all  made  to  the  regular 
scale  of  one-fiftieth  of  an  inch  for  one  second,  when  a  particular  scale  does  not 
appear,  and  are  drawn  as  they  appear  through  a  refracting  telescope,  which 
inverts  the  object. 

The  boundaries  of  the  constellations  are  somewhat  arbitrary;  they  are 
simply  indicated  to  easily  find  the  stars  of  the  catalogue  referring  to  each 
constellation. 

R.  A.  Proctor  said  that  if  the  constellations  were  entirely  removed  from  the 
celestial  atlases  very  little  inconvenience  would  follow;  here  we  quote  his  own 
words:  "Astronomy  as  an  exact  science  would,  in  my  opinion,  gain  greatly  by 
the  removal  of  the  constellations,  though  I  must  admit  that  so  far  as  popular 
astronomy  is  concerned  I  should  be  sorry  to  see  the  foolish  old  figures  removed." 

We  entirely  agree  with  the  eminent  astronomer,  but  in  the  interest  of  our 
readers  we  reproduce  at  the  end  of  our  Handbook  a  planisphere  showing  all 
the  historical,  mythological  and  old  and  new  constellations,  more  as  a  curiosity 
than  for  utility. 


CONSTELLATIONS  NORTH  OF  THE  ZODIAC. 


URSA    MINOR. 

This  constellation,  now  called  "The  Little  Bear,"  was  known  as  the  "Phoenice"  because 
it  was  the  guide  of  the  Phoenicians  during  their  excursions  and  travels  in  the  Mediterranean 
Sea;  they  used  to  call  it  Cynosura  or  Dog's  Tail.  It  is  commonly  called  "  The  Little  Dipper." 
It  is  supposed  to  have  been  introduced  by  Thales,  in  the  7th  century  B.  C. ;  it  is  mentioned 
by  Eudoxus  and  Aratus.  a  (Alpha)  is  the  Polar  Star;  /8  (beta)  and  y  (gamma)  are 'called 
"The  Guardians."  The  stars  of  this  constellation  never  set,  consequently  they  can  be  seen 
from  our  latitude  every  day  of  the  year. 


PE8IGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
ft  dbl. 
y 
8  dbl. 

€  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.0 

2.2  red 
3.0 
4.3 
4.5 
4.5 
5.0 
5.7  red 


POSITION 

R.  A.     18 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

1.15 

+88.40 

Fl.  5 

4.8  red 

14.51 

74.39 

Fl.  2 

5.0  yel. 

15.21 

72.16 

Fl.  4 

5.4  org. 

18.11 

86.37 

Fl.  11 

5.8 

1C.  58 

82.14 

P.  XIV,  260 

5.2  red 

15.48 

78.10 

P.  XIII,  109 

5.6 

16.21 

76.  2 

5058,  B.A.C. 

5.6 

15.35 

77.45 

18  it  dbl. 

6.5 

K.  A. 

h.  m. 
14.29 
0.52 
14.11 
15.19 
14.56 
13.24 
15.14 
15.36 


1     DECL. 
O      / 

+76.15 
85.37 
78.  6 
72. 14 
66.25 
73.  2 
67.54 
80.51 


NOTES. 

a  (Alplia)  Polaris—  Double ;  magnitudes  2.9  and  9.5;  distance,  18".6;  yellow  and  blue ;  some- 
what difficult  pair;  it  is  now  at  1°  207  from  the  pole;  will  be,  by  the  effect  of  precession 
of  the  equinoxes,  nearest  to  the  pole  in  A.  D.  2105  (see  Fig.  IX,  page  xii).  The  parallax  of 
this  interesting  star  has  been  obtained  many  times  from  Lindman,  in  1841,  to  Pritchard, 
in  1888,  and  the  average  adopted  gives  it  as  0".089  (Revue  d'Ast.,  Dec.,  1889). 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Lindman,  1841 0".144±0".056 

Peters,  1853 0".075±0".036 

Peters,  1853 0'M72±0//.027 

Peters,  1853 0".147±0".030 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Peters,  1853 0".067±0".0t2 

Lindhagen,  1853 0".025±0".0l8 

L.  de  Ball 0".015 

Pritchard,  1888 0".075±0".015 


This  parallax  represents  2,318,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun  or  210 
trillions  of  miles ;  the  light  traveling  with  a  velocity  of  187,500  miles  per  second  would  take 
no  less  than  36  years  to  reach  us;  a  fast  train  going  at  the  rate  of  60  miles  per  hour  would 
have  to  run  without  stopping  for  more  than  479  millions  of  years. 
8 


Fig.  1.— Double  Star  a  Fig.  2.— Double  Star  ir 

it  (Pi)— Double;  magnitudes  6.5  and  7.5;  distance,  30";  yellow  and  blue;  very  easy  pair. 
Y  (Gamma)— A  person  with  good  eyesight  can  see  the  star  11  at  57'  (minutes)  from  y  (gamma). 
5— Double;  magnitudes  4.8  and  11;  distance,  45";  the  little  one  is  difficult  to  be  seen. 
Anonyma— Double ;  magnitudes  7.5  and  9;  distance,  2";  it  is  the  nearest  to  the  pole. 
R.  (Cephei)- Variable;  named  a*  23  Cephei  by  Hevelius;  it  varies  from  the  5th  to  the  lOtb 
magnitude  in  365  days  (see  between  a  (alpha)  and  8  (delta).) 


URSA  MINOR— DRACO. 


/3  (Beta)Kochab— Double ;  magnitudes  3  and  11 ;  distance,165". 
£  (Zetd)— Doubte;  magnitudes  4  and  11 ;  distance,  310". 
e  (Epsilori)— Double;  magnitudes 4 and  12 ;  distance,  41". 


The  companions  are  small  and 
require  instruments  of  good 
power  to  separate  them. 


DRACO. 


This  constellation  appeared  already  during  the  time  of  Eudoxus,  of  Cnidus,  4th  cen- 
tury B.  C.,  and  represents  the  Dragon,  which  was  the  guardian  of  the  golden  apples  of  the 
garden  of  the  Hesperides;  according  to  others  it  was  the  monster  killed  by  Cadmus.  It  has 
been  introduced  between  the  two  Bears  most  likely  to  fill  tlue  sp.ace  left  between  them ;  it  is 
circum polar,  consequently  visible  all  the  year  round. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


dbl. 


«  dbl. 
c  dbl. 

<; 

r,  dbl. 

e  dbl. 
i  dbl. 
• 

A  dbl. 
M.  bin. 
v  dbl. 
£ 
o  dbl. 

IT 
P 
<T 

T 
V 
* 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.3 

2.9  yel. 

2.4  org. 

3.0  yel. 

4.4 

3.1 

2.9 

3.4 

3.3  yel. 

3.4 

3.6  red 

5.5 

4.0 

3.9  yel. 

4.8 

4.9 

5.0 

5.4 

5.0 

5.2 

4.3 


.FU8IT.lU.rS 

R.  A.     18 

80     DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

14.  1 

+64.57 

x  dbl. 

4.0 

17.28 

52.23 

*  dbl. 

4.7 

17.54 

51.30 

U) 

5.1 

19.13 

67.27 

19.48 

69.58 

15  A 

5.3 

17.08 

65.52 

39  I>,  trip. 

5.0 

16.22 

61.47 

46  c,  dbl. 

5.3 

16.  0 

58  53 

45  d 

5.0 

15.22 

59.23 

646 

6.0 

12.28 

70.27 

27  / 

5.4 

11.24 

70.  0 

ISflf 

5.3 

17.  3 

54.38 

19  h 

5.3 

17.30 

55.15 

10  i,  dbl. 

5.0  org. 

17.51 

56.53 

40  dbl. 

5.4 

18.49 

59.14 

17  dbl. 

5.8 

19.20 

65.29 

P.  IX,  37 

4.3 

20.  2 

67.31 

P.  X,  78 

5.0  org. 

19.33 

69.27 

R 

6.V. 

19.18 

73.  8 

* 

6.5  red 

18.56 

71.  8 

17415  CEltzen 

8.0 

18.23 

71.16 

H.  IV,  37 

neb. 

POSITION 


B.  A.     1«80     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 

18.23  +72.41 

17.44  72.13 

17.38  G8.48 


16.28 

69.  2 

18.22 

58.44 

18.40 

55.25 

18.30 

56.57 

20.   1 

64.23 

17.32 

68.13 

16.40 

64.49 

16.55 

65.16 

13.48 

65.19 

18.12 

79.59 

16.33 

53.  8 

9.11 

81.52 

10.22 

76.20 

16.32 

67.  0 

19.26 

76.20 

17.37 

68.28 

17.58 

66.38 

NOTES. 

o  (alpha)  Thuban,  0  (beta)  Alwaid  and  y  (gamma) 


The  three  first  stars  are  named: 
Etanin. 
v  (Nu)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.7  and  4.7;  distance,  62";  very  easy  pair;  an  opera  glass  will 

separate  them.    Mr.  Belopolsky,  in  1888,  found  a  parallax  =0"32±0"076,  and  another 

=0"28±0"088. 
o  (Omfcron)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.7  and  8.5;  distance,  32" ;  gold-yellow  and  lilac ;  nice  pair; 

beautiful  contrast. 
7  (Gamma)— Mr.  Auwers,  in  1869,  obtained  for  the  parallax  of  this  star,  0".092±0".070.    It  has 

a  companion  of  13th  magnitude,  discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham,  at  Chicago;  distance,  21". 
S  S  S 


Fig.  3.-Do\ibleStarv 


Fig.  4.— Double  Star  o 


Fig.  5.— Double  Star  ^ 


DRACO. 


^  (Psi)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.8  and  6.0;  distance,  31";  yellow  and  lilac;  easy  pair. 
40— Double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  6.0;  distance,  20";  very  easy. 
r)  (Ma)— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  10;  distance,  4".7;  difficult  pair. 
17— Double;  forms  a  triple  with  16;  magnitudes  6-6  and  6.5;  distances,  4"  and  90". 
«  (Epsilon)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.4  and  8 ;  distance,  2".9;  gold-yellow  and  azure ;  difficult  pair, 
/m  (Mu)— Binary;  magnitudes  5.0  and  5.0;  distance,  in  1884,  2".46;  in  1781  it  was  4".35;  revolu- 
tion, calculated  by  M.  Berberich,  648  years  (Revue  d'Ast.,  Nov.,  1885;  page  413). 
v  (Sigma)— One  of  the   nearest  stars  to  us;    parallax  by  Brunnow  in   1868   and   1870; 

average,  0".25;  838,000  times  the  distance  from  the  sun  to  us,  or  about  77  trillions  of  miles ; 

it  takes  the  light  a  little  over  13  years  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast. ,  1889;  page  450). 
2  1516— Binary ;  magnitudes  7  and  12;  distance,  7".    Mr.  L.  de  Ball  has  found  for  the  parallax 

0".104±0".008,  which  represents  1,983,318  times  the  distance  of  the  sun  from  the  earth;  the 

light  takes  31  years  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  Dec.  1887 ;  page  461).    It  is  about  4°  N.  by 

E.  of  A  (lambda). 
39— Double ;  magnitudes  5.0  and  7.7 ;  distance,  3".l ;  an  instrument  with  good  power  shows  it 

triple. 
2  2398  is  also  one  of  the  nearest  stars  to  us,  the  average  parallax  being  0".33,  representing  only 

55  trillions  of  miles;  the  light  takes  9  years  and  4  months  to  reach  us;  it  is  a  double 

of  8.2  and  9.2  magnitudes,  a  little  west  of  o  (omicron).    Out  of  twenty-three  stars  which 

gave  the  best  known  parallaxes  in  1889,  this  constellation  has  three  of  them,  a-  (sigma) 

only  being  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  which  proves  that  the  brightest  stars  are  not  always 

the  nearest. 
17,415  (Eltzen  is  also  one  of  the  nearest  stars  to  us;  the 

average  parallax  being  0"20. 
H.  IV,  37— Nebula,  the  first  one  examined  with  the 

spectroscope,  contains  nitrogen  and  hydrogen; 

before  it  was  doubtful  that  nebulse  could  be  in  a 

gaseous  state,  but  the  observations  by  Higgins,  in 

1861,  decided  the  question;   it  is  near  the  pole  of 

the  ecliptic  (see  about  one-third  the  distance 

between  w  (omega)  and  39).  Fig.  6.— Nebula  H.  IV,  37. 


Fig.  7.— Nebula  H.  IV,  37,  in  Lick  Observatory  Telescope. 

Fig.  6  represents  this  nebula  as  seen  with  common  telescopes.  Fig.  7  represents  the 
same  nebula  as  seen  by  Messrs.  Holden  and  Schcerberle  with  the  large  equatorial  of  Lick 
Observatory.  Attempts  have  been  made  several  times  to  find  the  distance  of  this  nebula. 

AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Brunnow,  in  1871-72 0".047  ±0".030 

Oudemans 0".085±0".028 

Bredichin,  1876 — 0".065 

The  last  parallax  being  negative,  the  distance  is  very  uncertain. 


CEPHEUS. 


CEPHEUS. 

Cepheus,  king  of  Ethiopia  and  one  of  the  Argonauts,  was  the  husband  of  Cassiopea 
and  father  of  Andromeda.  This  constellation  is  one  ot  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the 
ancients  and  appeared  in  Eudoxus'  astronomical  sphere ;  it  is  always  visible  in  our  latitude. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


adbl. 

ft  dbl. 
Sdbl. 

€ 
< 

i}  dbl. 
e 

i 

*  bin. 


dbl. 
dbl. 
bin. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.6 

3.4 

3.3 

4.V.  org. 

4.7 

3.9  red 

3.9 

4.4 

4.0 

4.5 

5.8 

4.V.  red 

5.0 

5.0 

5.4 
5.0 


p 

3BITION 

DESIGNA- 

R. A. 

1880     DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

21.16 

4-62.  5 

P 

21.27 

70.  2 

43Hev. 

23.34 

76.58 

51  Hev. 

22.25 

57.48 

R 

22.11 

56.27 

S 

22.  7 

57.37 

u 

20.43 

61  22 

2  2843  dbl. 

20.27 

62.35 

2  2840  dbl. 

22.45 

65.34 

2  2895  dbl. 

20.14 

77.21 

20 

22.  7 

58.51 

21.40 

58.14 

22.  0 

59.14 

22.  0 

64.  2 

23.13 

67.27 

23.  4 

74.44 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

6.0 
4.7 

5.5  org. 
5.V. 

8.V.  red 
7.0V. 

7.0 
6.5 
6.5 

6.0  org. 
6.0  red 
7.5  red 
5.7  org. 
5.9  org. 
6.0  org. 
6.0  org. 


R.  A. 

h.  m. 
22.29 
0.51 
6.44 
20.16 
21.37 
0.52 
21.49 
21.48 
22.11 
22.  1 
21.30 
21.10 
21.53 
22.  0 
22.  1 
22.34 


+78.12 
85.36 
87.14 


78.  5 
81.14 
65.11 
55.15 
72.45 
62.12 
58.11 
59.37 
63.  3 
62.31 
62.12 
56.10 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Alderamin—M.r.  Pritchard,  in  1889,  found  a  parallax  of  this  star=0".06±0".02. 

8  (Delta)— Double  variable;   magnitudes  3.7  to  4.9  and  7.0;  distance,  41";  orange  and  blue; 

nice  pair;  very  easy;  it  varies  in  the  short  period  of  5  days,  6  hours  and  42  minutes. 

A  nearer  faint  companion  discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham;  distance,  19". 
ft  (Beta)  Alphirk— Double;  magnitudes  3,  4  and  8;  distance,  14";  white  and  blue;  nice  pair; 

not  difficult, 
y  (Gamma)— Is  also  called  Ei  rai. 


Fig.  8.-Double  Star  S  Fig.  9.-Double  Star  ft 

(Kappa)— Binary;  magnitudes  4.5  and  8.5;  distance,  7".4;  delicate  pair. 
(Zi)-Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  7.6;  distance,  6".6;  nice  pair.    Near  to  it  there  is  another 
double  star  of  the  7th  magnitude. 

8  S 


Fig.  10.— Double  Star 


Fig.  11.— Double  Star  £ 


CEPHEUS  — CAMELOPAKDALUS  — CASSIOPEA. 


M  (Aftt)— Variable;  magnitude  4  to  6;  of  garnet  color,  called  by  W.  Herschel  "Garnet  Sidus;" 

it  is  the  star  of  the  darkest  red,  visible  to  the  naked  eye.    Mr.  Burnham  discovered  a 

faint  companion ;  distance,  19". 
o  (Omicron)— Double  variable;   magnitude  5.4  to  7  and  8;  distance,  2".5;   yellow  and  blue; 

beautiful  contrast. 
U.— Varies  from  7.5  to  9.2  magnitude  in  .2  days  .11  hours  and  50  minutes ;   it  is  one  of  the 

shortest  in  time  of  variation ;  it  is  N.  by  W.  of  y  (gamma). 
R.— Varies  from  5.0  to  10th  magnitude  in  365  days;  it  is  between  a  (alpha)  and  S  (delta)  of 

Ursa  Minor. 

CAMELOPARDALUS. 

This  constellation,  also  called  the  Camelopard  or  Giraffe,  was  introduced  by  Hevelius, 
in  1690;  as  it  was  formed  about  eighty  years  after  Bayer's  atlas  was  published  no  Greek  letters 
appear.  Our  catalogue  contains  the  designation  of  Flam  steed  and  Piazzi  catalogues. 

This  constellation,  being  circumpolar,  is  visible  from  our  latitude  the  entire  year. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


10  dbl. 

p.  Ill, 111 

P.  Ill,  51 
P.  V,  335 
P.  VI,  201 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.6 
4.2 

4.3 
4.7 
4.9 
4.9 


P.  XII,  230  dbl.  5.0 
7  dbl. 
P.  Ill, 7 
P.  Ill,  54 
P.  Ill,  57 
1042  Radcl. 
idbl. 


5.0 
5.0 
5.0 
5.2 
5.3 
5.4 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

B.  A.     1* 

80     DBCL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

4.42 

+66.  6 

P.  Ill,  121 

5.5 

4.53 

60.15 

P.  IV,  7 

5.5 

3.32 

70.58 

P.  IV,  269  dbl. 

5.0 

3.16 

59.32 

11  dbl. 

5.5 

6.  1 

69.22 

42 

5.5 

6.35 

77.15 

43 

5.6 

12.52 

84.  4 

P.  X,  22 

5.5 

4.47 

53.32 

R 

8.V.  org. 

3.  6 

65.13 

* 

6.6  red 

3.18 

58.18 

* 

6.0  org. 

3.18 

54.77 

* 

5.8  org. 

3.35 

70.30 

* 

7.0  org. 

4.27 

53.39 

R.  A.     U 

J80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

3.35 

+65.  8 

4.  5 

53.19 

4.54 

79.  6 

4.56 

58.50 

6.38 

6    on 

67.42 

£O 

.oU 
10.  9 

by. 
83.10 

14.27 

3.32 

62.15 

3.38 

65.  9 

3.47 

60.45 

4.39 

67.57 

NOTES. 

P.  IV,  269— Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  8;  distance,  19";  star  in  rapid  motion;  the  distance 
was  37"  in  1825,  20"  in  1877,  and  if  they  continue  at  the  same  rate  the  components  will 
be  at  the  nearest  point,  only  9"  apart,  in  1932  (Flammarion,  "  Les  Etoiles,"  page  46). 
B  S 


Fig.  12.— Double  Star  269.  Fig.  13.— Double  Star  230. 

P.  XII,  230— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  6.4;  distance,  22";  very  easy  pair. 
7— Double;  magnitudes  4.0  and  11.5;  distance,  26";  the  companion  is  a  dark  ashy  color  (gray). 
11— Double;  magnitudes  5. 6  and  6.2;  distance,  181";  bluish  and  orange;  very  easy— an  opera 
glass  will  separate  them.  

CASSIOPEA. 

Cassiopea,  or  "The  Lady  in  the  Chair,"  is  the  queen  of  Ethiopia,  wife  of  Cepheus,  who 
boasted  that  her  beauty  was  fairer  than  the  Nereids ;  those  nymphs,  to  punish  the  pretentious 
queen,  prayed  Neptune  to  avenge  them;  the  God  of  the  waters  sent  a  sea  monster  to  ravage 
the  shores  of  her  kingdom.  From  another  version  it  was  of  her  daughter's  beauty  that  the 
queen  boasted.  This  constellation  never  sets  in  our  latitude  and  can  be  seen  every  day. 


CASSIOPEA. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 

ft  dbl. 
y  dbl. 
6 

€ 

TJ  bin. 

0 

<.  trin. 

A  dbl. 
dbl. 
dbl. 

dbl. 
dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

1J.  A.     IS 

SO     DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

K.JL.     1830 

DECL,. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

0       / 

2.2  V.  red 

0.34 

+55.53 

X 

5.7 

1.26 

+58.37 

2.4 

0.  3 

58.29 

\l/  quad. 

4.5 

1.17 

67.30 

2.3 

0.49 

60.  4 

(0 

5.8 

1.46 

68.  9 

2.8 

1.18 

59.37 

3.5 

1.46 

63.  5 

48  A  bin. 

4.7 

1.51 

70.18 

4.0 

0.30 

53.22 

50 

4.2 

1.52 

71.49 

4.1 

0.42 

57.11 

P.  II,  227 

5.0 

2.58 

73.56 

4.4 

1.  4 

54.31 

1 

5.3 

22.57 

56.28 

4.5 

2.19 

66.51 

2  3062  bin. 

5.0 

0.  0 

57.29 

4.5 

0.26 

62.16 

P.XXIII,101  mtpS.O 

23.25 

57.44 

5.1 

0.25 

53.52 

4  qdl. 

6.0 

23.20 

61.37 

6.0 

1.  0 

54.20 

2  3033  dbl. 

6.5 

23.57 

65.24 

5.6 

0.42 

50.18 

R 

6.V.  red 

23.52 

50.43 

5.6 

0  35 

49.50 

S 

7.V.  red 

1.11 

71.59 

5.2 

0.38 

47.36 

T 

7.V.  red 

0.17 

55.   8 

5.2 

0.37 

46.22 

* 

6.5  red 

2.47 

63.50 

5.3  red 

23.48 

56.49 

* 

6.1  org. 

2.28 

65.14 

5.3 

23.53 

55.  5 

** 

7.9  red  &  blue  23.  55 

59.41 

5.5 

23.41 

57.59 

3077  Bradley 

6.5 

23.  7 

56.30 

5.4 

0.48 

58.19 

H.  VI,  30 

cl 

23.51 

56.  3 

5.5 

1.12 

57.36 

Temp,  of  1572 

0.18 

63.27 

NOTES. 


Mr.  Fritchard,  in  1888,  obtained  a  parallax  for  a  (aZp7ia)=0".071±0".040;  and  for  ft  (beta)  a 
parallax=0".162±0".052.  a.  (alpha)  is  also  called  Schedar,  and  ft  (beta)  Chaph. 

y  (Qamma) — Examined  with  the  spectroscope  has  a  double  spectrum,  similar  to  the  one  of  the 
temporary  of  1866  (see  Corona  Borealis  notes).  It  contains  some  incandescent  hydrogen ; 
it  has  been  burning  for  more  than  2,000  years  and  the  fire  seems  to  be  as  fierce  as  ever. 
Mr.  Pritchard  found,  in  1888,  for  the  parallax  of  this  star  0".007±0".042;  too  uncertain  to 
calculate  its  distance.  Mr.  Burnham  discovered  a  close  star  at  2" .2  distance  in  1888  with 
the  36-inch  telescope  of  Lick  Observatory. 

fj.  (Mu)—  Has  a  rapid,  proper  motion;  4".43  per  year ;  one  degree  in  812  years ;  apparent  diam- 
eter of  the  moon  in  420  years ;  will  be  near  <f>  (phi)  Persei  in  6,000  years  if  it  keeps  the 
same  minimum  velocity  of  200.000  yards  per  second.  It  was  "  parallaxed"  by  Struve  in 
1855,  by  Schweizer  in  1863  and  by  Pritchard  in  1888,  and  the  average  0".060  would  put  the 
distance  at  3,438,000  times  the  distance  of  the  sun  from  the  earth  or  318  trillions  of  miles, 
and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  54  years  before  reaching  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page 
450). 

i)  (Eta)— Binary ;  magnitudes  4.2  and  7 ;  distance,  in  1880, 5".3 ;  revolution,  about  167  years.  It  was 
noted  yellow  and  lilac  by  Flammarion ;  red  and  green  in  1821,  by  J.  Herschel ;  yellow  and 
purple  in  1832,  by  Struve;  yellow  and  blue  in  1841,  byDawes;  yellow  and  red  in  1851,  by  Sec- 
chi  •  the  companion  seems  to  change  color.  This  star  showed  a  parallax  of  0".154,  measured 
by  Struve  in  1855,  and  one  of  0".170,  measured  by  Schweizer  in  1866.  In  taking  0".16  as  an 
average  it  would  be  at  1,270,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  to  the  sun  or  118  trillions 
of  miles,  and  the  light  would  take  over  20  years  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  446). 

i  (lota)— Trinary;  magnitudes  4.5-7.0  and  8.4 ;  distances,  2"  and  7".6;  yellow,  lilac  and  purple; 
remarkable  system. 

$  (Psi)— Quadruple  or  double-double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  13;  9  and  10;  the  main  stars  are  29" 
apart,  and  form  two  difficult  pairs  at  3"  distance  each.  The  companion  of  the  largest 
star  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham  in  1889. 

3077  Bradley— Parallax  by  Brunnow  in  1871,  Backlund  t881  and  Gylden  1881.    Average=0".19. 


Fig.  14.— Quadruple  Star  ^ 


Fig.  15. -Orbit  of  2  3062. 


CASSIOPEA— ANDROMEDA. 


P.  XXIII,  101— Multiple ;  eight  stars  have  been  measured  in  the  group,  which  include  two 
close  pairs  I" A  and  1".5  apart,  but  it  requires  a  good  power  to  see  them  all. 

<r  (Sigma)—  Double;  magnitudes  5.3  and  8 ;  distance,  3";  delicate  pair. 

2  3062— Binary;  magnitudes  6.9  and  7.5 ;  distance,  l".4;  rapid  orbital  motion ;  revolution,  about 
104  years. 

T  (1572)— Temporary;  very  remarkable;  observed  byTycho  Brahe,  it  was- first  visible  in  day- 
time, very  much  to  the  astonishment  of  the  people ;  during  five  months  it  was  brighter 
than  the  stars  of  the  1st  magnitude,  but  gradually  decreased  to  the  2d,  3d,  4th,  etc., 
magnitude,  and  17  months  afterward  disappeared  to  the  naked  eye;  the  telescope  was 
not  then  invented  and  it  could  not  be  followed  any  longer.  When  it  first  appeared  it 
was  as  white  and  as  bright  as  Venus ;  after  it  turned  yellow,  and  finally  it  was  seen  very 
red.  A  similar  temporary  is  reported  to  have  appeared  in  the  same  place  in  945  and  in 
1264,  which  may  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  the  same  star,  reviving  at  intervals  of 
319  and  308  years,  but  the  position  was  not  positively  denned,  and  if  it  was  the  same  star 
it  should  have  appeared  again  in  1880.  A  star 
of  the  llth  magnitude  is  near  its  position. 

<  (Zeta)— Prof .  Colbert,  of  Chicago,  said  that  on  the 
20th  of  August,  1886,  at  9.30  p.  m.  he  saw  this 
star  "  as  appearing  to  be  more  prominent  than 
a  star  in  the  same  region  which  is  rated  in  the 
catalogues  as  half  a  magnitude  brighter,  and 
nearly  as  bright  as  the  most  prominent  stars 
in  that  region."  It  lasted  only  half  an  hour 
and  then  went  down  to  the  regular  size;  the 
strangest  part  of  it  is  that  at  the  moment  of  its 
greatest  brilliancy  a  ray  of  light  was  seen  simi- 
lar to  the  tail  of  a  small  comet  going  from  it  in 
the  direction  of  A.  (lambda). 

H.  VI.,  30— Nice  cluster  of  small  stars— they  look 
like  diamond  dust  (see  between  ft  (beta)  and 
a  (styma).)  (Fig.  16.)  Fig.  16.— Cluster  H.  VI,  30. 


ANDROMEDA. 

Andromeda,  or  "The  Chained  Lady,"  was  the  daughter  of  Cepheus  and  Cassiopea;  to 
appease  the  anger  of  the  Nereids,  whom  her  mother  had  offended  in  boasting  of  her  beauty, 
she  was  attached  to  a  rock  to  be  killed  by  the  sea  monster  that  Neptune  sent  to  ravage  the 
shores  of  Ethiopia,  but  Perseus  rescued  her  and  made  her  his  wife. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 

ft  dbl. 
y  trin. 
8  dbl. 


trip. 


dbl. 


POSITION 

POSITION 

MAGNI- 

DESIGNA- 

MAQNI- 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     188 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DEOL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

h.  m. 

O       ' 

2.0 

0.  2 

+28.26 

<£  dbl. 

4.5 

1.36 

+50.  5 

2.2  red 

1.  3 

34.59 

X 

5.6 

1.32 

43.48 

2.1  org. 

1.56 

41.45 

*  dbl. 

5.7 

23.40 

45.45 

3.3  yel. 

0.33 

30.13 

(0 

4.7 

1.20 

44.48 

4.3 

0.32 

28.40 

4.3 

0.41 

23.37 

A 

6.0 

1.23 

46.24 

4.4 

0.51 

22.47 

b 

5.5 

2.  5 

43.40 

5.4 

0.11 

38.   1 

c 

6.0 

2.11 

46.50 

4.5 

23.32 

42.36 

53 

4.8 

1.32 

39.59 

4.5 

23.35 

43.40 

3  dbl. 

5.5 

22.58 

49.23 

4.4  yel. 

23.32 

45.49 

M 

5.4 

23.  7 

48.45 

4.3 

0.50 

37.51 

8 

5.0  red 

23.12 

48.22 

4.5 

0.43 

40.26 

41 

5.4 

1.  1 

43.19 

5.0 

1.15 

44.54 

55  dbl. 

6.0 

1.46 

40.10 

4.0 

22.57 

41.41 

56  dbl. 

5.5 

1.49 

36.40 

4.3 

0.30 

33.  4 

59  dbl. 

6.5 

2.  4 

33.29 

6.0 

0.15 

37.18 

R 

6.V.  org. 

0.18 

37.55 

4.7 

0.12 

36.  7 

* 

8.2  very  red 

0.14 

44.  3 

4.6 

1.34 

39.58 

34  Groomb. 

8.0 

0.11 

43.20 

5.5 

1.30 

40.49 

M.31 

neb. 

0.36 

40.37 

ANDKOMEDA. 


Fig.  17.— Trinary  y 


NOTES. 

The  principal  stars  are  named  :  a  (alpha),  Alpherat; 

/3  (beta),  Mirach;  and  y  (gramma),  Almach. 
V  (Gamma)—  Trinary;  jmagnitades  2.2-5.5  and  6.5; 

distances,  10^  and  0".5  ;  orange,  green  and  blue  ; 

splendid  system.    The  second  and  third  form 
.a  system  in  orbital  motion,  period  unknown. 

Mr.  Burnham  said  that  the  double  companion 

was  single  in  all  telescopes  for  some  years,  and 

the  distance  now  (Dec.  1891)  is  less  than  0".l. 
v  (Pi)—  Triple;  double  with  small  instrument;  mag- 

nitudes 4.4  and  9;  distance,  36";  easy  pair. 
56—  Double;  magnitudes  6  and  6;  distance,  2'  56"; 

very  easy  pair—  an  opera  glass  will  separate 

them. 
36—  Binary  ;  magnitudes  6  and  7  ;  distance, 

1".3;  close  pair;  orange  and  yellow; 

revolution,  137  years  (see  between 

/3  (beta),  ^  (eta)  and  £  (zeta). 
R.—  Variable;  sometimes  visible  to  the 

naked  eye;  it  varies  from  the  6th  to 

the  13th  magnitude  in  405  days. 
M.  31—  Beautiful  nebula,  visible  with  an 

opera  glass—  even  with  the  naked 

eye.    Halley,  who  observed  it,  says  : 

"  The  spot  is  nothing  else  than  the 

light  coming  from  an  extraordinary 

great  space  in  the  ether,  through 

which  a  lucid  medium  is  diffused 

which  shines  with  its  own  proper 

luster."    Bond  gives  it  4°  in  length 

and  2°  30"  in  width,  which  represents 

a  minimum  of  1,381  billions  of  miles, 

or  300  times  larger  than  the  solar 

system.    Fig.  18  is  an  exact  repro- 

duction of  a  photograph  of  this 

nebula  taken  by  Mr.  Isaac  Roberts, 

December  29,  1888,  with  a  20-inch 

telescope.    It  took  four  hours  to 

obtain  this  result. 

The  spectral  analysis  indicated  that  this  nebula  is  entirely  gaseous;  it  is  nearly  circular, 
and  its.  elliptic  aspect  is  due  to  its  great  obliquity.    Another  photograph,  taken  in  1891  by 
Mr.  Roberts,  shows  some  spiral  curves  with  several  condensations,  indicating  a  world  in 
formation,  conformable  to  the  theory  of  Mr.  Faye  (Revue  d'Ast,,  1891;  pages  441-445). 
T.  (1885)—  In  1885  a  temporary  appeared  near  the  center  of  the  nebula.    We  give  below  the 

table  of  the  variations  of  magnitude  observed: 


Fig.  18.-Nebula  M.  31. 
(From  a  photograph  taken  by  Mr.  Isaac  Roberts.) 


Aug.  17 

Aug.  19 

Aug.  22 

Aug.  30... 

Aug.  31 

Sept.  l 


MAG. 
9 

9 
9 


1885  MAG. 

Sept.    2 6tf 

Sept.  3 6H 

Sept.  4 7 

Sept.  7 714 

Sept.  11 8 

Sept.  15 8l/2 


1885  MAG. 

Sept.  20  ................    9 

Sept.  27  .................  10 

Oct.    i  .................  ioya 

Oct.      8  .................   11 

Oct.  15  .................  ii1/* 


It  was  most  likely  a  conflagration  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1885;  pages  361,  403,  408). 


TRIANGULUM-LACERTA. 


TRIANGULUM. 

This  constellation  was  called  by  the  Greeks  the  "  Deltoton;"  some  astronomers  called  it 
Triangula  (the  Triangles);  it  was  already  one  of  tlae  constellations  in  Eudoxus'  time  (in  the 
4th  century  B.  C.). 

In  our  map  of  the  constellations  at  the  end  of  this  Handbook  appears  a  fly  above 
Aries;  this  little  constellation  (Musca)  was  introduced  by  Bartschius,  in  1624,  but  did  not  last 
long.  The  B.  A.  Catalogue  does  not  recognize  it. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 


MAGNI 
TUBE. 


4.0 
3.2 

4.2 
5.5 


h.  m. 
1.46 
2.  2 
2.11 
2.10 


>     DICL. 
O        / 

+29.4 
34.25 
33.23 
33.42 


NOTES. 

6— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  6.5;  distance,  3".7; 
gold-yellow  and  bluish-green ;  very  nice  pair. 

M.  33— Nebula,  large  but  not  well  denned ;  find  it 
when  there  is  no  moonlight,  between  a  (alpha) 
of  Triangulum  and  /3  (beta)  of  Andromeda. 


Fig.  19.— Double  Star  6. 


LACERTA. 

This  little  constellation  has  very  little  interest,  and  Hevelius  said  that  he  noticed  ten 
very  bright  little  stars  between  Andromeda  and  Cygnus,  and  he  inserted  a  lizard  because  he 
could  not  put  anything  else  more  appropriate. 

Bode,  in  1798,  introduced  between  Lacerta,  Cassiopea  and  Andromeda  a  constellation 
in  honor  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  Frederick ;  it  was  composed  of  stars  taken  out  of  the  con- 
stellation Cassiopea,  but  the  B.  A.  Catalogue  does  not  recognize  it.  Honores  Freitierici  may 
be  seen  in  our  map  of  the  constellations  at  the  end  of  this  Handbook. 

Lacerta  itself  was  a  constellation  formed  by  Augustin  Royer,  in  1679,  in  honor  of 
Louis  XIV  of  France,  but  the  name  given  by  Hevelius,  in  1690,  has  been  adopted. 


POSITION 

DKH1GNA- 

MAGNI- 

,                                     *                               v 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.  A.     1880     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

7  Fl.  a 

4.2 

22.47          +49.40 

6 

5,2 

30 

4.7  org. 

22.19             61.38 

10  dbl. 

5.2 

1  dbl. 

4.8  org. 

22.11              37.  9 

11 

5.5  yel. 

2  dbl. 

4.8 

22.16             45.56 

15  dbl. 

5.5  org. 

4 

5.0  org. 

22.20             48.52 

P.  XXII,  36 

5.3  red 

5 

5.0  red 

22.24             47.  5 

B.  A. 

h.  m 
22.25 
22.34 
22.35 
22.47 
22.  9 


DECL. 

O      ' 

+42.30 
38.25 
43.38 
42.41 
39.  T 


NOTES. 

4— Is  an  orange  star;  near  by  is  a  blue  star;  nice  field,  rich  in  small  stars. 
8  Fl.— Is  a  quadruple  star  near  10. 


PERSEUS. 


PERSEUS. 

Perseus,  also  called  "  The  Champion,"  is  the  hero  who,  after  hearing  of  the  dangers  of 
Andromeda,  jumped  on  Pegasus  and  arrived  in  time  to  save  her  life  by  presenting  to  the  sea 
monster  the  head  of  Medusa,  which  had  the  power  of  petrifying  everything  and  everybody. 
It  is  also  one  of  the  oldest  constellations,  noted  by  Eudoxus. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
/3  dbl. 
y  dbl. 
£  dbl. 
«  dbl. 
£qdl. 
>,  dbl. 
4  trip. 


dbl. 


•odbl. 

n 


x  trip. 


43  A,  dbl. 
Z) 

48  c 
43d 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.2 

2.V.  red 

3.0 

3.5 

3.3  V. 

3.0 

4.2  red 

4.4 

4.3 

4.4 

4.6 

4.5 

4.1 

4.3 

4.3 

5.1 

3.V.  red 

4.8  org. 

4.3 

3.9 

4.0 

cum. 

4.8 

5.0  red 

5.G 
5.1 
4.4 
5.3 


POSITION 

R.  A.     1880 

"   DECL^ 

h.  m. 

0       / 

3.16 

+49.26 

3.  0 

40.30 

2.56 

53.  2 

3.34 

47.24 

3.50 

39.40 

3.47 

31.32 

2.42 

55.24 

2.36 

48.43 

3.  0 

49.  9 

3.  1 

44.24 

3.58 

50.  2 

4.  5 

48.  6 

3.37 

42.12 

3.51 

35.27 

3.35 

31.55 

2.51 

39.10 

2.57 

38.22 

3/22 

47.35 

2.46 

52.16 

1.30 

48.   1 

1.36 

50.  5 

2.10 

56.58 

3.28 

47.47 

3.  3 

39.  9 

3.48 

50.21 

4.  9 

50.  0 

4.  0 

47.23 

4.13 

46.12 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


58  e,  trip. 

52  / 

40 

h 

9i 

k 

I 

57  m,  dbl. 

42  n 

40  o,  dbl. 

16 

17 

21 

995  B.  A.  C. 

29-31 

P.  Ill,  23 

24 

12  trip. 
P.  II,  220  dbl 
2  563,  dbl. 

R 

S 

H.  VI,  33 

H.  VI,  34 

M.  34 


4.6  org 
5.0 
5.6 
cum. 
5.7 
5.2 
5.5 
6.5 
6.6 
5.7 
4.5 
5.0 
5.2 
5.2 
5.4 
5.4 
5.5 
5.5 
5.8 
7.5 

8.V.  org. 
8.V.  org. 
cl. 
cl. 
cl. 
neb.  and  *  red. 

*  7.5  red 

*  7.5  red 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
4.28 
4.  7 
1.54 
2.  5 
2.14 
2.56 
3.13 
4.25 
3.42 
3.35 
2.43 
2.44 
2.50 
2.43 
3.10 
3.10 
2.51 
2.34 
2.53 
4.28 
3.22 
2.14 
2.11 
2.14 
2.34 
2.36 
2.43 
3.21 


>     DEOL. 

O        / 

+41.  1 
40.11 
53.54 
50.31 
55.17 
56.14 
42.55 
42.47 
32.42 
33.34 
37.49 
34.34 
31.26 
50.29 
49.45 
33.11 
34.42 
39.40 
51.52 
40.51 
35.16 
58.  2 
56.36 
56.33 
42.16 
31.55 
57.50 
54.58 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Mirfak—Is  a  double  star. 

•8  (Beta)  Algol— Very  remarkable  variable ;  visible  to  the  naked  eye ;  varies  from  2.3  to  4.3  in 
2  days  20  hours  48  minutes  and  53  seconds ;  the  minimum  lasts  only  6  minutes  and  the 
maximum  about  36  hours,  consequently  the  variation  takes  only  about  9  hours.  Is  it 
due  to  the  rotation  of  Algol,  which  would  have  a  dark  continent?  or  is  it  due  to  the 
revolution  of  a  planet  which  would  partially  eclipse  it?  From  spectroscopical  observa- 
tions done  at  Greenwich  the  latter  is  probably  true,  but  it  is  not  yet  proved  (Revue 
d'Ast.,  Nov.,  1887;  page  428). 

9        6         3        0        3         6         9       12      15      18      21       24      27      30      i 

2nd  Mag. 


3rd  Mag. 


4th  Mag. 


6      i 

i     :i 

1 

2      1 

5      1 

8      '. 

1      2 

4      '.' 

7      S 

0      3C 

Max 

mum 

> 

W 

a 

urn 

Y 

Minimum. 

Fig.  20.— Diagram  showing  the  variations  of  Algol  in  69  hours. 


,p  (Rho)—  Is  also  a  variable;  from  3.4  to  4.2;  period  not  yet  known. 

ij  (Eta)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.2  and  8.5;  distance,  28";  yellow  and  blue;  this  fine  pair  has 

five  little  stars  around  it. 
e  (Epsilori)— Double;  magnitudes  3.3  and  8.5;  distance  9";  greenish-white  and  lilac. 


PERSEUS. 


6  (Theta)—  Triple;  magnitudes  4.4-10  and  10;  distances,  15"  and  68". 

<  (Zeta)— Quadruple ;  magnitudes  3-10-12  and  11 ;  distances,  13",  83"  and  121";  very  difficult. 
8  S 


Fig.  23.— Quadruple  Star  £    Scale— 60"=  l  inch. 


Fig.  24.— Double  Star  e 


P.  II,  220— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance,  12";   very  easy  pair;    the  companion  is 

sapphire. 

2  563— Double;  magnitude  7.5  and  9;  distance,  12";  delicate  pair. 
H.  IV,  33  and  34— Are  two  clusters  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  very  close  to  each  other  and 

composed  of  several  hundreds  of  stars ;  with  a  small 

power  and  large  field  it  is  a  very  nice  sight;  it  is 

marked  in  our  planisphere  N.  by  W.  of  17  (eta). 

M.  34— Is  also  a  nice  cluster  of  stars,  very  easy  with 
small  instruments ;  it  is  between  Algol  and  Almach ; 
it  was  resolved  into  small  stars  by  Messier  himself. 
This  constellation  is  rich  in  nebulae,  more  or  less 
easy  with  common  telescopes. 

Medusa's  Head  (Caput  Medusae)  is  the  name  given 
to  a  cluster  of  stars  in  this  constellation,  of  which  Algol 
is  a  part. 

Fig.  25.— Cluster  Messier 


12 


URSA  MAJOR. 


URSA    MAJOR. 

According  to  Greek  mythology  "The  Great  Bear"  is  nothing  else  than  the  nymph 
Callisto,  who  was  beloved  by  Jupiter,  and  became  the  mother  of  Areas ;  according  to  Ovid,  the 
jealous  Juno  to  avenge  herself  changed  Callisto  into  a  bear,  and  one  day  when  Areas  was 
hunting  he  did  not  recognize  her  and  came  very  near  killing  his  mother;  to  avoid  this  parri- 
cide Jupiter  carried  them  both  among  the  stars. 

It  is  mentioned  in  Job  (xxxviii,  31)  and  by  Homer,  and  is  perhaps  the  oldest  of  the  con- 
stellations. The  stars  of  this  constellation  never  set  in  our  latitude,  and  a  (alpha)  and 
ft  (beta),  which  are  called  "The  Pointers,"  serve  to  find  the  north  point,  as  the  Pole  Star  is 
in  the  direction  of  these  stars  at  about  five  times  the  distance  that  separates  them. 

This  constellation  is  commonly  named  "The  Dipper;"  the  French  people  call  it 
"Chariot  of  David;"  the  Chinese,  Ti-tche  ("Chariot  of  the  Sovereign").  The  four  stars 
a  (alpha),  j3  (beta),  y  (gamma)  and  S  (delta)  are  called  by  the  Arabs  "The  Coffin." 


UEBltrlNA- 

TION. 

MAUH1- 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     It 

80     DECL. 

JLJrjBmlXJl- 
TION. 

TUBE. 

B.A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

o     / 

adbl. 

2.4  V.  yel. 

10.56 

+62.24 

b 

5.5 

8.43 

+62.24 

/Bdbl. 

2.8 

10.55 

57.02 

c 

5.5 

9.  5 

61.55 

ydbl. 

2.7 

11.48 

54.22 

a 

5.2 

9.24 

70.22 

«dbl. 

3.7 

12.  7 

57.41 

e 

5.0 

9.  7 

54.32 

«bin. 

2.2 

12.49 

56.37 

f 

5.2 

9.  0 

52.  5 

£  (Mizar)  dbl 

.2.4 

13.19 

55.33 

Q 

5.0 

13.20 

55.37 

19 

2.1 

13.43 

49.55 

23  h,  dbl. 

4.2 

9.22 

63.36 

edbl. 

3.3 

9.25 

52.13 

10 

4.5 

8.52 

42.15 

*  dbl. 

3.4 

8.51 

48.31 

P.  VIII,  245 

5.0 

8.59 

38.56 

K 

3.4 

8.55 

47.38 

26 

5.4 

9.26 

52.35 

A 

3.3 

10.10 

43.31 

P.  X,  42 

5.0 

10.14 

66.10 

/* 

3.2  red 

10.15 

42.06 

38 

5.2 

10.34 

66.21 

•>dbl. 

3.3  red 

11.12 

33.45 

P.  X,  135 

5.3 

10.36 

46.50 

£bin. 

3.6 

11.12 

32.12 

47 

5.3 

10.53 

41.  4 

0 

3.8 

8.20 

61.  7 

49 

5.5 

10.54 

39.51 

n 

5.0 

8.29 

64.45 

55 

5.5 

11.12 

38.51 

Pbin.(?) 

5.2 

8  52 

68.  5 

57  dbl. 

5.9 

11.23 

40.  0 

o-dbl. 

5.3 

9.  0 

67.37 

83 

5.V.  org. 

13.36 

55.18 

rdbl. 

5.5 

9.  3 

63.59 

1830  Groomb. 

6.7 

11.46 

38.35 

vdbl. 

4.8 

9.42 

59.37 

21185  Lai. 

7.5 

10.56 

36.53 

<J>bin. 

5.0 

9.44 

54.38 

21258  Lai. 

8.5 

11.  0 

48.  7 

X 

4.0  red 

11.40 

48.26 

R 

7.V.  red 

10.36 

66.24 

* 

3.2  yel. 

11.  3 

45.  9 

S 

8.V.  org. 

12.39 

61.45 

w 

5.0 

10.47 

43.50 

T 

7.V.  org. 

12.31 

60.  9 

P.  X,  126 

7.V.  org. 

10.34 

69.42 

A 

5.5 

8.24 

65.34 

NOTES. 

The  first  seven  stars  of  this  constellation  have  been  named  by  the  Arabs  as  follows : 
a  (alpha),  Dubhe;  /3  (beta),  Merak;  y  (gamma),  Phegda;  «  (delta),  Megrez;  «  (epsilon),  Alioth; 
£  (zeta)t  Mizar;  and  ij  (eta),  Benetnash  or  Alkaid. 

a  (Alpha)  has  a  companion  discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham  in  1889;  distance  0".9. 

Mizar  and  Alcor  are  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  distance  11'  48". 

Fig.  26  represents  Mizar  and  Alcor  as  seen  in  the  field  of  an  ordinary  telescope ;  the  two 
stars  of  the  West  represent  the  double  star  Mizar;  the  N.  E.  star  is  Alcor;  the  little  stars 
which  appear  on  the  diagram  are  difficult  to  be  seen  with  small  instruments.  Mizar  was 
observed  as  a  double  star  by  Riccioli,  in  1650;  by  Gottfried  Kirch  at  the  end  of  the  17th 
century.  The  observations  of  the  components  taken  at  different  times  indicate  that  the 
relative  position  of  the  two  stars  varied  only  a  few  degrees  in  125  years;  the  revolution 
around  their  center  of  gravity  exceeds  18,000  or  20,000  years.  (Flammarion,  Les  Etoiles, 
page  107.) 


URSA  MAJOR. 


Scale— 6'  30"=i  inch. 


Fig.  26.— The  Double  Star  Mizar  and  Alcor,  in  the  field  of  any  ordinary  telescope. 

£  (Zeta)  Mizar— Double ;  magnitudes  2.4  and  4.0;  distance,  14".5;  splendid  pair,  very  bright. 

It  is  the  first  star  observed  as  double  in  the  telescope. 
£  (Zi)-Binary;  magnitudes  3.6  and  5;  distance,  in  1880, 1".7;  rapid  orbital  motion;  revolution, 

60  years  and  7  months.    This  system  is  the  first  one  which  had  its  period  calculated  by 

Savary,  in  1828,  he  giving  for  the  revolution  58  years, 
i  (Iota)  Talitha—ls  also  double. 


Fig.  27.— Apparent  Orbit  of  £  in  Ursa  Major.  Fig.  28.— Real  Orbit  of  £ 

v  (Nu)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.3  and  10;  distance,  7";  orange  and  blue. 

a  (Sigma)— Double;  suspected  binary;  magnitudes  5.3  and  9;  distance,  2".6 ;  in  1780  it  was  at 

distance  8";  there  are  two  <r  (sigma),  the  double  is  <r2. 

57— Double;  magnitudes  5.9  and  8 ;  distance,  5". 5;  nice  pair;  the  companion  is  violet. 
</>  (Phi) -Binary;  magnitudes  5  and  5.5;  distance,  0".24  in  1892;  close  pair;  time  of  orbital 

revolution,  115  years. 

02234-Binary;  magnitudes  7  and  7.8;  distance,  0".2  in  1892 ;  revolution,  68  years. 
O2  235— Binary;  magnitudes  6  and  7 ;  distance,  \"  in  1892;  revolution,  94  years, 
t  (Iota)— Peters,  in  1842-43,  obtained  for  the  parallax  of  this  star,  0".068±0".047. 
10-Mr.  Belopsky,  in  1888,  obtained  for  the  parallax  of  this  star,  0".20±0".011. 


14 


URSA  MAJOR. 


Fig.  29.— Binary  £  in  1880. 


Fig.  30.— Double  Star  23  h. 


23  Jir- Double;  magnitudes  4.2  and  9;  distance,  22".    This  pair  is  stationary  since  1781. 

1830— Near  57  is  the  star  of  the  greatest  motion,  7".3  S.  E.  per  year;  if  it  was  turning  around  us 
it  would  take  180,000  years  to  complete  its  revolution ;  minimum  velocity,  300,000  yards 
per  second ;  it  will  be  in  Coma  Berenices  6,000  years  from  now.  The  parallax  of  this 
remarkable  star  has  been  determined  several  times,  and  in  adopting  the  average  0".045it 
would  represent  4,583,000  times  the  distance  of  the  sun  from  the  earth,  or  500  trillions  of 
miles,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  72  years  to  reach  us. 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Peters,  1842-43 0".226±0".141 

Schluter  and  Wichman,  1842-43.. 0".182±0".018 
Schliiter  and  Wichman,  1850-52..  0".  141  ±0".013 
O.Struve 0".034±0".029 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Johnson,  1850-53 0".033  ±0".028 

Auwers,  1874 0".023  ±0".033 

Brunnow,  1870-71 0".090±0".025 

J.  C.  Kapteyn,  1891 0".139±0".026 


"•          8 


A          y 


CANES 
VENATIC 


Fig.  31.— Rapid  motions  of  three  stars  in  Ursa  Major. 

21185-21258— Are  also  in  very  rapid  motion;  in  calculating  their  position  it  has  been  found  that 
the  three  stars,  1830,  21185  and  21258,  were  very  close  together  3,000  years  ago,  and  since 
then  they  have  been  moving  in  three  different  directions  as  a  result  of  a  "fantastic 
explosion."  These  stars,  which  are  not  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  would  be  found  near 
the  double  star  57;  the  first  one,  as  we  have  said,  goes  toward  Coma  Berenices;  the 
second  in  the  direction  of  y  (gamma)  of  Leo  Major,  and  the  third  toward  K  (kappa) 
(Flammarion,  Les  Etoiles,  page  115). 


URSA  MAJOR  — LEO  MINOR-CANES  VENATICI. 


The  diagram  (Fig.  31)  represents  the  motions  of  the  above  three  stars;  the  black  circles 
indicate  their  position  in  1880,  the  small  circles  their  position 
3,000  years  ago,  and  the  end  of  the  arrows  their  position  10,000 
years  from  now. 
Mr.  Winnecke,  in  1858,  gave  for  the  parallax  of  the 

star  21185 0".501±0".011 

Mr.  J.  C.  Kapteyn,  in  1891 0".428±0".030 

Mr.  Auwers  gave  for  the  parallax  of  the  star  2l258..0".262±0".0ll 

Mr.Krueger 0".260±0".020 

Mr.  J.  C.  Kapteyn,  in  1891 0".168±0".027 

M.  97— This  curious  nebula,  visible  only  in  large  telescopes,  will 

be  found  at  about  10°  S.  E.  of  /3  (beta).    (See  Fig.  32.)  Fig.  32.— Nebula  M.  97. 


LEO    MINOR. 

This  little  constellation  was  introduced  by  Hevelius  about  1660. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


37qdl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


42dbl. 

46 


4.9 
4.9 
5.0 
4.2 


POSITION 
B.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 

10.32          +32.35 

10.19 

10.39 

10.47 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


34.24 
31.20 
34.52 

NOTES. 

This  constellation  contains  nothing  remarkable  with  the  exception  of  R,  between  21  and 
10,  a  little  south  of  the  line  joining  these  stars,  which  varies  from  the  7th  to  the  llth  magni- 
tude in  369  days. 
20— Mr.  J.  C.  Kapteyn,  in  1891,  gave  for  the  parallax  of  this  star,  0".062±0".029. 


CANES    VENATICI. 

This  constellation  was  formed  by  Hevelius,  in  about  1690,  by  taking  some  stars  situated 
between  the  Great  Bear  and  the  Herdsman. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


12  o,  dbl. 

8/3 

14 

15 

19 

20 

23 

21 

24 

25  bin. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.9 

4.4 

5.0 
5.7 
6.0 
5.0 
6.0 
5.2 
4.8 
5.2 


POSITION 

POSITION 

B".  A.     18 

JO     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

h.  m. 

O       / 

12.50 

+38.58 

6 

5.2 

12.20 

+39.41 

12.28 

42.  0 

P.  XII,  29 

5.6 

12.10 

33.44r 

13.  0 

36.27 

P.  XIII,  27 

5.2 

13.  9 

40.48 

13.  4 

39.12 

2  dbl. 

6.5 

12.10 

41.20 

13.10 

41.29 

23793  Lai. 

5.V.  org. 

12.39 

46.  6 

13.12 

41.12 

* 

6.0  org. 

13.18 

37.40 

13.15 

40.46 

,M.  51 

neb. 

13.25 

47.50 

13.13 

50.19 

M.  3 

cl. 

13.37 

28.59 

13.36 

49.38 

M.  94 

net). 

12.46 

41.48 

13.32 

36.54 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.2  and  5.7 ;  distance, 
20";  gold-yellow  and  lilac;  very  nice  pair.  It 
was  called  by  Halley  "  Cor  Caroli  II  "  (Charles 
IPs  Heart). 

2— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  9;  distance,  11";  gold- 
yellow  and  azure ;  elegant  pair. 

25— Binary ;  magnitudes  6  and  7 ;  distance,  1".0  in  1892 ; 
white  and  blue ;  time  of  revolution,  124  years. 

M.  51— Beautiful  nebula,  with  two  nuclei.  The  tele- 
scope of  Lord  Rosse  in  1845  shows  this  nebula 
in  nice  spiral  curves  composed  of  brilliant 
dust,  each  part  being  a  sun  like  ours,  and 
separated  by  millions  and  millions  of  leagues. 
Diameter  equals  G'  (minutes).  (Figs.  34  and  85.) 


Fig.  33.— Double  Star  a 


IG 


CANES  VENATICI— COMA  BERENICES. 


Fig.34.— Nebula  M.  51,  in 
Common  Telescopes. 


Fig.  35.— Nebula  Messier  51,  in  Lord  Rosse's  Telescope.  Fig.  36.— Cluster  M.  3. 

M.  3— Rich  cluster    of  6  to  7  minutes  in  diameter,  containing  about  1,000  stars;  three  small 
stars  in  triangular  shape  seem  to  inclose  it. 


COMA    BERENICES. 

Coma  Berenices  (Queen  Berenice's  Hair)  is  the  only  constellation  of  the  ancients  of 
which  we  can  give  the  true  history. 

Berenice,  daughter  of  King  Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  had  just  been  married  to  her  brother 
Ptolemy  Euergetes,  when  he  was  obliged  to  fight  against  Seleucus  II,  King  of  Syria;  Bere- 
nice in  her  grief  swore  by  Venus  to  sacrifice  her  beautiful  hair  if  her  husband  came  back 
victorious ;  he  did,  and  Berenice,  the  very  day  of  his  return,  deposited  her  hair  in  the  temple 
of  the  goddess ;  the  next  night  it  disappeared,  stolen,  most  likely,  by  a  priest ;  but  to  console  the 
two  lovers  the  astronomer  Conon  told  them  that  he  saw  it  in  the  sky,  and  that  it  had  been 
transported  there  by  Venus  herself. 

It  is  noted  for  the  first  time  in  the  catalogue  of  Tycho  Brahe  in  1590 ;  but  mention  is  made 
of  it  already  by  Ptolemy,  A.  D.  140,  by  Callimachus,  Eratosthenes  and  Sufi. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


43/3 

4.6 

15  y 

4.9  org. 

16 

5.2 

42  a  bin. 

5.2 

6 

5.7 

11 

5.5 

12  dbl. 

5.4 

14 

5.5 

23 

5.5 

24  dbl. 

5.6 

27 

5.8 

31 

5.7 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

R. A.     1 

880     DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

13.  6 

+28.29 

35  trin. 

12.21 

28.57 

36 

12.21 

27.30 

37 

13.  4 

18.10 

41 

12.10 

15.34 

7 

12.15 

18.29 

18 

12.16 

26.31 

21 

12.20 

27.56 

R 

12  29 

23.17 

R 

12.29 

19.  2 

R 

12.41 

17.15 

* 

12.  46 

28.12 

* 

TUDE. 

K.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

5.7 

12.47 

+21.56 

5.4  org. 

12.53 

18.  4 

5.6 

12.54 

31.25 

5.5 

13.  2 

28.17 

5.8 

12.10 

24.39 

G.O 

12.23 

24.46 

G.O 

12.25 

25.15 

7.V.  red 

11.58 

19.27 

8.V. 

12.33 

17.10 

7.V. 

12.34 

17.  8 

8.0  org. 

12.52 

18.24 

6.0  org. 

13.31 

25.13 

COMA  BERENICES  — BOOTES. 


17 


NOTES. 

24— Double;   magnitudes  5.6  and  7;   distance,  21"; 

orange    and   blue;    beautiful   pair;    in  rapid 

motion. 
35— Trinary;  magnitudes  5.7-8  and  8.2;  distances,  28" 

and  l".4;  the  two  companions  revolve  around 

each  other  in  a  period  of  400  to  500  years. 
12— Double;   magnitudes  5.4  and  8;  distances,  66"; 

very  easy  pair. 
42— Binary;  magnitudes 6  and  6;  distances,  0".5;  very 

close  pair,  in  orbital  motion;  revolution  only 

25  years. 

This  constellation  is  very  rich  in  small  nebulae, 
but  it  requires  good  power  to  see  them. 


Fig.  37.— Double  Star  24. 


BOOTES. 

This  constellation,  now  called  the  Herdsman,  was  also  known  as  Arctophylax,  which 
means  "  Guardian  of  the  Bear."  According  to  some  authors  it  was  Areas,  son  of  the  nymph 
Callisto;  according  to  others  it  represents  Icarus,  the  son  of  Doedalus.  It  is  one  of  the  forty- 
eight  constellations  of  the  ancients. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 


/3dbl. 
7 

5  dbl. 
ebin. 

r,dbl. 

e 

i  trip. 

<dbl. 

A 

M  trin. 


MAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TUDE. 

K!  A.    18 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1 

580     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O      / 

h.  m. 

O        / 

1.2  org. 

14.10 

+19.48 

A 

5.0 

14.13 

+36.  3 

3.3 

14.57 

40.52 

46  b 

6.0 

15.  3 

26.46 

3.6 

14.27 

38.50 

45  c 

5.7 

15.  2 

25.21 

3.4 

15.11 

33.46 

12  d 

5.7 

14.  5 

25.40 

2.4  yel. 

14.40 

27.35 

66 

5.8 

13.44 

21.52 

3.3 

14.  35 

14.15 

SB/ 

6.0 

14.21 

19.46 

3.0 

13.49 

19.  0 

24flf 

6.0 

14.24 

50.23 

4.4 

14.21 

52.24 

38  h 

6.2 

14.45 

46.37 

4.6 

14.12 

51.55 

44  i,  bin. 

5.0 

15.  0 

48.  8 

5.0 

14.  9 

52.21 

47  7c 

5.9 

15.  1 

48.36 

4.5 

14.12 

46.38 

9 

5.5 

13.51 

28.  6 

4.4 

15.20 

37.48 

13  dbl. 

5.5  org. 

14.  4 

50.  1 

4.8 

15.27 

41.15 

20 

5.5 

14.14 

16.51 

4.5 

14.46 

19.37 

4559  B.  A.  C. 

5.5 

13.34 

11.22 

4.9 

14.40 

17.28 

P.  XIV,  69  dbl. 

5.3 

14.18 

8.58 

4.3 

14.35 

16.56 

P.  XIV,  73 

5.5 

14.18 

6.22 

4.0  org. 

14.27 

30.54 

31 

5.0 

14.36 

8.41 

5.0 

14.29 

30.16 

34 

5.V.  org. 

14.38 

27.  2 

5.0 

13.42 

18.  3 

40 

5.8 

14.55 

39.41 

4.8  red 

13.44 

16.24 

39  dbl. 

5.6 

14.46 

49.13 

5.3 

15.33 

40.44 

R 

6.V.  red 

14.32 

27.15 

5.2 

15.  9 

29.37 

8 

8.V. 

14.19 

54.21 

5.0 

14.59 

27.25 

5.3 

14.57 

25.29 

O 

TT  bin. 
pdbl. 

<T 

rdbl. 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Arcturus— lii  rapid  proper  motion ;  2".25  S. W.  per  year.  It  is  the  first  star  observed 
as  being  in  motion  by  Halley  in  1717;  velocity  more  than  100,000  yards  per  second;  the 
spectral  analysis  indicates  that  it  is  coming  our  direction  at  the  rate  of  about  3,100  miles 
per  minute  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  135).  The  parallax  of  Arcturus  obtained  by  Peters 
in  1842-43,  was  0".127+0".073;  by  Johnson,  in  1853-54,  was  0".138+0".052;  by  Elkin,  in  1888, 
was  0".018+0".022.  The  average,  0".094,  would  bring  the  distance  of  Arcturus  at  2,194,100 
times  the  distance  from  the  earth  to  the  sun,  or  200  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  light  would 
take  over  34  years  and  6  months  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  446). 


18 


BOOTES  — CORONA  BOREAL1S. 


0  (Beta)  is  called  Nekkar,  e  (epsilon)  Izar,  and  T;  (eta)  Muphrid. 

34— Varies  from  the  4.5  to  the  6th  magnitude  in  a  period  calculated  by  Schmidt  to  be  369  days, 
e  (Epsilon)— Binary;  magnitudes  2.4  and  6.5;  distance,  2".9;  gold  and  blue;  Struve  called  it 

"  Pulcherrima  "  (the  finest);  orbital  revolution  over  1,200  years. 
IT  (Pi)— Binary;  magnitudes  4.3  and  6;  distance,  6";  nice  and  easy  pair. 

1  (Iota)— Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and"8;  distance,  38".    Triple  with  large  telescopes. 

S  S 


Fig.  38.— Double  Star 


Fig.  39.— Double  Star 


Fig.  40.— Double  Star  «. 


£  (Zi)— Binary;  magnitudes  4.5  and  6.5;  distance,  in  1880,  4".2;  yellow  and  red;  revolution 

about  127  years. 

*  (Kappa)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.0  and  7;  distance.  12".8;  nice  pair,  very  easy. 
44  i— Binary ;  magnitudes  5.0  and  6;  distance,  in  1880,  4".8;  revolution,  261  years. 
P.  XIV,  69— Double;  magnitudes  5.3  and  6.8;  distance,  6".  1;  nice  pair. 
39— Double;  magnitudes  5.6  and  6.5;  distance,  3".6 ;  very  easy  pair. 
S  (Delta)— Double;  magnitudes  3.4  and  8.5;  distance,  110". 
M.  (Mu)— Trinary;  magnitudes  4.4-7  and  8;  distances,  108"  and  0".7;  the  companions  revolve 

around  each  other  in  280  years,  and  around  M  (Mu)  in  120,000  years  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles, 

page  142). 

£(Zet a)  —Double;  suspected  binary ;  magnitudes  3.6  and  4.2;  distance,  0".9;  difficult  pair. 
O2  298— Binary;  magnitudes  7  and  7.4;  distance,  0".2;  revolution,  69  years. 


CORONA    BOREALIS. 

Corona  Borealis,  or  the  Northern  Crown,  is  a  very  characteristic  constellation,  and  very 
little  imagination  is  necessary  to  form  the  shape  of  a  crown. 

Ovid  said  that  Ariadne,  abandoned  by  Theseus  on  a  deserted  shore,  was  crying  bitterly 
when  Bacchus  came  to  her  rescue,  detached  her  crown  and  threw  it  in  the  heavens;  the 
jewels  were  changed  into  stars  and  formed  a  crown  among  the  constellations  between  Her- 
cules and  the  Serpent. 

a  (Alpha)  is  also  called  Gemma  (the  Jewel)  and  Alphecca. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


a  dbl. 

2.2 

]3 

3.8 

y  bin. 

3.7 

& 

4.2 

e  dbl. 

4.0 

£  bin.  (?) 

4.5 

rj  bin. 

5.3 

9 

4.5 

t 

4.8 

K 

4.5 

\ 

6.0 

t>- 

5.2 

V  dbl. 

5.0  org. 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

K.  A.     1 

!80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

O       f 

15.30 

+27.  7 

£ 

5.3 

16.17 

+31.11 

15.23 

29.31 

6.0 

15.15 

30.  2 

15.38 

26.40 

6.0 

15.39 

32.53 

15.44 

26.27 

5.8 

15.57 

33.41 

15.53 

27.14 

trin. 

6.0 

16.10 

34.10 

15.35 

37.  2 

5.0 

16.  5 

36.47 

15.18 

30.43 

qdl. 

5.8 

16.12 

29.28 

15.28 

31.46 

R 

6.V.  org. 

15.44 

28.31 

15.57 

30.11 

S 

7.V.  red 

15.17 

31.48 

15.47 

36.  2 

Temp,  of  18 

66    .... 

15.54 

26.16 

15.51 

38.   6 

U 

7.V. 

15.13 

32.  5 

15.31 

39.25 

V 

7.V. 

15.45 

40.  5 

16.18 

34.  2 

CORONA  BOREALIS. 


19 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Alphecca—Is  a  double  star. 

£  (Zetd)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.5  and  6;  distance,  6".4;  white  and  green ;  suspected  binary. 
<r  (Sigma)— Binary;  magnitudes 6.0 and  7 ;  distance,  in  1880,  3".5;  revolution,  846  years ;  in  1830 
the  companion  was  at  l"  only;  it  is  a  trinary  in  larger  instruments. 


Fig.  41.— Double  Star  £ 


Fig.  42.— Binary  Star  <r 


rj  (Eta)—  Binary;  magnitudes,  5.3  and  5.5;  distance,  in  1880,  0".6;  one  of  the  most  rapid  orbital 
motion;  revolution,  41  years;  difficult  pair. 

T  (1866)— There  are  several  variables  in  this  constellation,  but  the  principal  is  T,  the  tempo- 
rary of  1866;  it  is  situated  at  58'  S.  of  e  (epsilori).  We  give  here  a  table  of  the  variations 
of  this  remarkable  star  which  tells  its  own  stoiy : 


1866 
May  12.  .  . 

MAO. 

2 

1866 
May  18  

MAO. 

4.9 

1866 
May  24  

MAG. 
7.8 

1866 
Aug.    1  

MAO. 

9.7 

May  13 

2  5 

May  19 

5  3 

May  26 

8  0 

Sept    1 

9  3 

May  14 

3  0 

May  20 

6  0 

May  29 

8  4 

Sept  14 

8  0 

May  15 

3  6 

May  21. 

6  5 

June   7 

9  0 

Oct      1 

7  7 

May  16.  . 

...  4  0 

May  22. 

7  3 

June  19  

.   .  9.5 

Oct    15  . 

7  5 

May  17... 

...4.5 

May  23... 

...7.5 

July    1... 

...9.7 

Nov.    5... 

...7.9 

MaylGth         May  18th       May  20th      May  22nd   May  23th  June  7th   SepU4th   Octlath 


Fig.  43.— Diagram  showing  the  variations  of  magnitude  of  the  Temporary  of  1866. 

The  spectral  analysis  has  indicated  all  the  phenomena  of  a  veritable  conflagration,  which 
did  not  last  more  than  one  month ;  but  the  distance  of  this  star  is  so  great  that  the  light  must 
have  taken  no  less  than  587  years  to  reach  us,  and  this  big  fire  took  place  in  1279,  more  or 
less,  according  to  the  distance,  and  was  seen  from  here  only  in  1866  (Flammarion,  Les 
Etoiles,  pages  143  to  149).  It  is  now  near  e  (epsilcm)  in  the  direction  of  n  (pi)  of  Serpens. 
K,.— Varies  from  5.8  to  13th  magnitude  in  323  days;  it  declines  faster  than  it  increases,  being 

sometimes  below  the  10th  magnitude  in  three-fourths  of  the  entire  period ;  it  is  a  little 

north  of  8  (delta). 
V.— Varies  from  7.6  to  8.8  in  3  days  10  hours  and  51  minutes;  it  is  one  of  the  shortest  period  of 

variation ;  it  is  between  >?  (eta)  and  6  (delta)  of  Bootes. 


AURIGA. 


AURIGA. 

Auriga,  or  the  Charioteer,  is  one  of  the  oldest  constellations  and  was  marked  in  the- 
astronomical  sphere  of  Eudoxus.  It  was  named  from  Erichton,  king  of  Athens,  by  the  Greeks ; 
and  its  brightest  star,  Capella,  is  the  goat,  Amalthea,  which  nursed  Jupiter ;  the  little  stars,, 
e  (epsilon),  £  (zeta)  and  r,  (eta),  are  called  "The  Kids." 


POSITION 

ESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TTJDE. 

K.  A.     18 

80     DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

a  (Capella) 

1.3 

5.  8 

+45.52 

<*> 

jSdbl. 

2.3 

5.51 

44.56 

X 

y  (see  £  Tauri.) 

58^7 

S 

4.2  yel. 

5.50 

54.17 

46  t1 

6 

3.V. 

4.53 

43.39 

50.//2 

£ 

4.0  org. 

4.54 

40.54 

55^ 

TJ 

4.0 

4.58 

41.  5 

\jjlO 

0dbl. 

3.4 

5.52 

37-12 

4  w  dbl. 

c 

3.5 

4.49 

32.58 

2 

K 

5.6 

6.   8 

29.33 

9 

A  dbl. 

5.5 

5.11 

39.59 

14  trip. 

M- 

6.0 

5.  5 

38.20 

16  dbl. 

vdbl. 

4.6 

5.43 

39.  7 

41  dbl. 

£ 

5.0 

5.45 

55.41 

63 

0 

5.9 

5.37 

49.47 

R 

IT 

5.V.  org. 

5.51 

45.56 

* 

p 

6.2 

5.13 

41.41 

* 

<r 

6.3 

5.16 

37.16 

* 

r  trip. 

5.5 

5.41 

39.  9  . 

M.  37 

V 

5.5 

5.43 

37.17 

M.  38 

TCDE. 

R.  A.      1 

S80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       f 

6.6 

5.20 

+34.22 

5.7 

5.25 

32.  6 

5.3 

6.42 

41.54 

6.0 

6.15 

49.21 

6.0 

6.31 

42.34 

5.5 

6.34 

44.37 

5.8 

6.48 

45.21 

5.8 

4.51 

37.43 

5.4 

4.44 

36.31 

5.5 

4.57 

51.27 

5.3 

5.  7 

32.33 

5.7 

5.10 

33.16 

6.3 

6.  3 

48.44 

5.9 

7.  3 

39.31 

7.V.  red 

5.   8 

53.27 

8.0  red 

4.44 

28.19 

6.8  red 

4.52 

39.28- 

6.3  org. 

6.28 

38.32 

cl. 

5.44 

32.31 

cl 

5.21 

35.44 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Capella— Is  one  of  the  few  stars  offering  a  parallax;  found  by  Peters  in  1842,  0".046; 
which  represents  a  distance  4,484,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  420 
trillions  of  miles ;  it  takes  the  light  71  years  and  8  months  to  come  from  Capella  to  us. 
Struve,  in  1855,  gave  for  the  parallax  0".305±0'  .043,  and  Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  in  1887-88 
gave  one  of  0".107±0".047;  this  last  one,  offering  more  precision  than  the  above,  would 
reduce  the  distance  to  170  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  time  of  the  light  to  29  years.  This- 
illustrates  how  delicate  and  difficult  the  problem  of  parallax  is,  and  what  a  difference  in 
the  distance  a  little  fraction  of  a  second  produces.  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  446.) 

(8  (Beta)  Menkalinan—Mr.  Pritchard,  in  1891,  gave  two  measures  of  the  parallax  of  this  star,. 
0".065±0".024,  0".059±0".025;  or  an  average=0".062. 

14— Triple;  magnitudes  5.3-7.5  and  11;  distance,  15"  and  12";  the  first  two  form  an  easy  pair.. 
The  third  one  is  only  visible  in  large  telescopes. 


Fig.  44.— Triple  Star  14. 


Fig.  45.— Double  Star  4 


AURIGA  —  LYNX. 


•21 


4o»  (Omega)— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  8 ;  distance,  6".3;  delicate  pair. 
M.  37— Is  a  cluster  of  over  500  stars  of  the  10th  to  the  14th  magnitude ;  very  nice  and  interest- 
ing with  a  small  telescope;  see  about  half  way  between  /3  (beta)  of  Taurus  and  9  (theta). 
M.  38— Is  also  a  cluster,  cross-shaped,  which  contains  several  nice  small  double  stars;  see 
near  \  (chi)  in  the  direction  of  Capella. 

January  24th,  1892,  at  2  a.  m.,  Mr.  T.  D.  Anderson  saw  a  star  of  5th  magnitude  between 
.£  (beta)  Tauri  and  x  (c/ii)  Aurigse.  The  1st  of  February  he  sent  a  postal  card  to-Mr.  Copeland, 
of  Edinburgh  Observatory,  announcing  its  discovery.  Prof.  Copeland  saw  it  also  with  an 
opera  glass  and  telegraphed  the  news  to  the  principal  astronomers.  Mr.  Pickering,  of 
Harvard  College,  examined  it  and  said:  "Copeland's  Nova  bright  on  photograph  December 
10th;  faint,  December  1st;  maximum,  December  20th;  spectrum  unique."  Mr.  Huggins 
remarks  that  the  character  of  this  spectrum  is  similar  to  the  spectra  of  the  Temporaries 
of  1866  and  1876.  Position,  in  1892:  R.  A.  5h.  25m.  4s;  Decl.  +30°  21'. 


LYNX. 


This  constellation  was  named  the  Lynx, 
requires  a  very  good  eyesight  to  see  it. 

POSH 

'ION 

jDESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

o      / 

40  a  dbl. 

3.4  red 

9.14 

+34.54 

38  dbl. 

3.8 

9.11 

37.19 

31 

4.4 

8.14 

43.34 

21 

4.7 

7.18 

49.27 

15  bin. 

5.2 

6.46 

58.35 

2 

5.5 

6.  8 

59.  3 

27 

5.7 

7.59 

51.51 

12  trin. 

5.6 

6.35 

59.33 

30 

5.5 

9.  7 

43.44 

P.  VII,  169 

5.5 

7.31 

50.43 

by  Hevelius,  in  1690,  because  he  said  that  it 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 

19  trip. 
24 

P.  IX,  115 

18 

14  bin.  (?) 

Fl.  1010 

20  dbl. 
R 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.4 

5.5 

5.5 

5.7 

5.8 

6.0 

7.5 

7.V.  org. 

6.2  org. 


+55.30 
58.58 
40.  9 
59.51 
59.35 
52.20 
50.22 
55.30 
58.36 


NOTES. 

19— Triple;  double  with  small  instruments ;  magnitudes  5.4  and  7 ;  distance,  14";  very  easy  and 

nice  pair. 

20— Double;  magnitudes  7.5  and  7  5;  distance,  15" ;  elegant  pair,  of  equal  magnitude. 
,38— Double;  magnitudes  3.8  and  7;  distance,  2".8;  very  close  pair. 

8 


Fig.  46.— Double  Star  38.  Fig.  47.— Trinary  12. 

12— Trinary ;  magnitudes  5.8-6.5  and  7.5 ;  distances,  in  1880, 1".4  and  8".3.  The  first  two  revolve 
around  each  other  in  676  years;  the  third  one  must  take  several  thousand  years  to 
accomplish  its  revolution. 

15— Is  a  binary,  but  it  requires  a  strong  power;  the  components  are  gold-yellow  and  azure. 
In  1868  Baron  Dembowski,  near  Milan,  observed  the  yellow  sun  covering  the  blue 
one  about  one-fourth  of  its  diameter;  an  occultation  of  this  kind  is  very  rare;  since 
1872  they  are  going  away  from  each  other;  in  1880  they  were  0".5  apart  (Flam.,  Les 
Etoiles,  page  165). 


PEGASUS. 


PEGASUS. 

Pegasus  is  "  The  Winged  Horse,"  sprung  from  the  blood  of  Medusa,  when  Perseus  killed 
her  before  going  to  the  rescue  of  Andromeda;  he  became  the  horse  of  Jupiter  and  was  carry- 
ing the  thunder  and  lightning  of  this  god;  afterward  he  was  attached  to  the  service  of  the 
Muses,  and  it  is  he  who  founded  the  "Hippocrene  Fountain,"  where  poets  went  to  exalt  their 
imagination  by  drinking  its  waters. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
/Sdbl. 
ydbl. 
edbl. 


ijdbl. 
0 


dbl. 


dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

2.0 

2.4  red 

2.5 

2.8  yel. 

3.3 

3.0 

3.6 

4.0 

4.0 

4.2 

4.3 

5.3 

4.8 

5.0 

4.2 

5.3 

5.3 

4.9 

4.9 

6.0 

5.6 

4.3  red 


POSITION 

t 

*,  N 

DESIGNA- 

B. A. 

1880     DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

22.59 

+14.34 

l  dbl. 

22.58 

27.26 

2 

0.  7 

14.31 

3  dbl. 

21.38 

9.20 

9 

22.35 

10.12 

14 

22.37 

29.36 

16 

22.  4 

5.36 

31 

22.   1 

24.45 

32 

21.39 

25.  5 

55 

22.41 

22.56 

56 

22.44 

23.58 

57  dbl. 

22.00 

4.28 

58 

22.41 

11.34 

59 

22.36 

28.41 

70 

22.  4 

32.35 

77 

22.49 

8.11 

78 

22.46 

9.12 

85  bin. 

23.15 

23.  5 

B 

23.19 

22.45 

S 

23.46 

18.27 

M.  15 

0.  8 

19.33 

23.52 

24.29 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     li 

i80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

4.4 

21.17 

+19.17 

4.9 

21.25 

23.  6 

6.0 

21.32 

6.04 

4.3 

21.39 

16.48 

5.0 

21.44 

29.37 

5.6 

21.48 

25.22 

4.8 

22.16 

11.38 

5.0 

22.16 

27.44 

4.9  org. 

23.  1 

8.46 

5.0 

23.   1 

24.50 

5.4  org. 

23.  3 

8.  2 

5.7 

23.  4 

9.11 

5.4 

23.06 

8.  4 

5.2 

23.23 

12.  6 

5.5  red 

23.37 

9.40 

5.2  org. 

23.38 

28.42 

6.0 

23.56 

26.27 

7.V.  red 

23.   1 

9.54 

7.V.  org. 

23.14 

8.16 

el. 

21.24 

11.38 

NOTES. 

The  first  three  stars  of  this  constellation  are  also  called  a  (alpha)  Markab,  0  (beta) 
Scheat  and  y  (gamma)  Algenib,  and  form  with  Alpherat  (a  (alpha)  Andromedae)  the  "  Square 
of  Pegasus."    e  (Epsilon)  is  named  Enif  and  £  (zeta)  Homan. 
•f  (Pi)— Double;  magnitudes  4  and  5;  distance,  12'  (minutes);  it  is  a  very  easy  pair  of  the  same 

type  as  Alcor  and  Mizar;  an  opera-glass -will. separate  it. 
e  (Epsilon)— Double;  magnitudes  2.8  and  9;  distance,  2'  18";  very  easy  in  a  small  telescope 

with  a  large  field. 

1— Double;  magnitudes  4.4  and  9;  distance,  36";  easy  pair;  yellow  and  lilac. 
3— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance,  39";  very  easy  pair.    Another  delicate  pair  is  seen 

in  the  same  field. 

S  S 


Fig.  48.— Double  Starl. 


Fig.  49.— Double  Star  3. 


PEGASUS  —  EQUUELUS. 


85-Binary ;  magnitudes  6  and  11 ;  distance,  in  1878, 0".67;  at  the  end  of  1883  they  were  in  con- 
tact, and  the  different  measures  taken  by  Mr.  Burnham,  at  Chicago,  give  a  period  of  22 
years.  There  is  also  in  the  same  field  a  star  of  the  9th  magnitude  which  was  found  at  a 
distance  of  30"  hy  Argelander  in  1855;  at  14"  by  Flammarion  in  1870;  at  15"  at  the  end 
of  1879,  and  at  17".3  at  the  end  of  1882  by  Burnham;  it  has  kept  going  away  ever  since. 
Brunnow  found  for  the  parallax  of  the  star  85  0".054,  which  represents  3,805,000  times 
the  distance  of  the  sun  from  the  earth,  or  320  trillions  of  miles;  the  light,  traveling  at 
the  rate  of  190,000  miles  per  second,  would  take  no  less  than  34/2  years  to  reach  us 
(Kevue  d'Ast,  1884;  page  176). 

K.  (Kappa)— Is  a  binary,  offering  a  history  similar  to  the  above.  Mr.  Burnham  found  the  com- 
panion at  0".27  on  the  12th  of  August,  1880;  at  0".10  in  July,  1890,  at  Lick  Observatory; 
and  for  the  period  of  revolution  about  11  years,  the  shortest  known  so  far.  The  other 
companion  of  K.  (Kappa),  of  the  9th  magnitude,  is  at  12"  distance  in  1891  (Kevue  d'Ast., 
June,  1891 ;  page  210). 

E.  and  S.— Vary  from  the  7th  to  the  12th  magnitude, 
but  require  powerful  telescopes. 

M.  15— Is  a  cluster  of  several  hundreds  of  stars, 
visible  with  a  small  power;  marked  on  our  plan- 
isphere N.  W.  of  «  (epsilon). 


Fig.  50.— Cluster  Messier  15. 


EQUUELUS. 

Equuelus,  or  "  The  Little  Horse,"  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Hipparchus  about  130 
years  B.  C.,  and  contains  only  a  few  small  stars. 


DESIGNS 
TION. 


/3qdl. 
ydbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

4.0 
5.0 
4.5 


POSITION 

MAGNI- 

K.  A.     18 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUBE. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

21.10 

-H-44 

8  bin. 

4.5 

21.17 

6.18 

l  e  trin. 

5.4 

21.  5 

9.38 

2  £  dbl. 

6.3 

R.  A. 

h.  m. 
21.  9 
20.53 
20.56 


+9.31 
3.50 
6.42 


NOTES. 

y  (Gamma)— Double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  6;  distance,  6' 6";  very  easy  with  an  opera  glass;  the 
comet  of  1680  passed  close  by  on  the  3d  of  January,  1681 ;  Knott,  in  1867,  discovered 
a  companion  at  2". 

e(Epsilori)— Trinary;  magnitudes  5.4-7.5  and  7.5;  distances,  11"  and  0".9.    In  1835  Struve  dis- 
covered for  the  first  time  the  two  companions 
at  0".35  only  from  each  other;  it  is  a  very  im- 
portant system. 

8  (Delta)— Binary;  magnitudes  4.5  and  5;  distance, 
0".2  in  1880;  very  rapid  orbital  motion,  time 
about  12  years.  There  is  another  companion  of 
the  10th  magnitude,  measured  at  a  distance  of 
20"  in  1781;  at  27"  in  1835;  at  30"  in  1847;  at  33" 
in  1859;  at  34"  in  1870;  at  38"  in  1880.  The  change 
in  the  distance  of  this  star  is  due  to  proper 
motion. 

/3  (Beta)— Is  also  a  multiple  star. 

Fig.  51.— Trinary  1 


24 


DELPHINUS. 


DELPHINUS. 

Delphinus,  the  Dolphin,  appeared  in  the  sphere  of  Eudoxus.  Who  is  he?  Some  say 
that  he  is  the  Dolphin  who  saved  the  poet  Arion  from  shipwreck ;  others  that  he  is  the  one 
that  Neptune  sent  to  the  discovery  of  Amphitrite;  others  that  he  is  the  pirate  Acetes,  who 
protected  Bacchus;  others  that  it  represents  Apollo  coming  back  from  Crete,  and  some  others 
claim  that  it  is  the  fish  in  which  Jonah  remained  for  three  days  and  three  nights. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
ft  trip, 
•ybin. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.7 

3.3 
3.4 
4.0 
4.0 
4.9 
5.8 
6.0 


POSITION 

POSITION 

R.A.     1 

m  DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.A. 

18*0     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

0         / 

20.34 

+15.29 

I 

5.7 

20.32 

+10.57 

20.32 

14.11 

«dbl. 

4.8 

20.33 

9.40 

20.41 

15.42 

2  2703  dbl. 

7.5 

20.31 

14.23 

20.38 

14.38 

R 

8.V.  org. 

20.  9 

8.44 

20.27 

10.54 

S 

8.V.  org. 

20.38 

16.39 

20.  30 

14.16 

T 

8.V.  org. 

20.40 

15.58 

20.28 

12.37 

* 

6.8  org. 

20.40 

17.39 

20.33 

12.54 

* 

7.0  org. 

20.32 

17.51 

NOTES. 


a  (Alpha)  is  called  also  Sualocin  and  ft  (beta)  Rotanev.    The  letters  of  these  names,  reversed, 

form  Nicolaus  Venator,  the  Latin  name  of  Niccolo  Cacciatore,  who  was  connected  with 

the  Palermo  Observatory 
V  (Gamma)— Double;  binary;  magnitudes 3.4 and  6;  distance  11"';  orange  and  green,  very  nice; 

the  companion  changes  color; 

sometimes  orange,  sometimes  N, 

yellow,  sometimes  blue,  some- 
times  green ;    but  generally 

emerald  green.     Period,  26 

years. 
K  (Kappa)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.8 

and  11 ;  distance,  10";  easy  pair, 

but  the  companion  is  small, 
s 


Fig.  52.— Double  Star  y 


Fig.  53.— Triple  Star  2  2703,  between  ft  and  £ 


ft  (Beta)— Triple,  even  quadruple,  having  two  companions  of  10th  and  13th  magnitude  at  35" 
and  28",  and  the  star  ft  (beta)  being  a  very  close  binary,  distance  0".4  only;  in  rapid 
orbital  motion,  discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham  in  1873,  its  period  about  26  years. 

22703— Triple;  magnitudes  7.6-7.6  and  7.8;  distance,  26"  and  69";  beautiful  triple  between 
ft  (beta)  and  £(zeta).  These  three  stars,  ft  (beta),  2  2703  and  £  (zeta),  appear  in  the  field 
of  a  small  telescope  and  form  a  nice  group  (Fig.  53).  Image  not  reversed. 

6  (Theta)—lf  you  also  look  at  0  (theta)  you  will  find  a  nice  field  of  small  stars. 

O2  527— Is  also  a  binary;  magnitudes  7  and  8;  distance,  0".5;  period  of  revolution,  54 years;  too 
close  for  common  telescopes. 
There  are  several  variables  in  this  constellation,  but  they  require  good  telescopes  and 

large  power  to  be  followed. 


CYGNUS. 


•25 


CYGNUS. 

Cygnus,  according  to  the  Greeks,  is  Jupiter  himself,  taking  the  form  of  a  swan  to  seduce 
the  innocent  Leda.  Ovid  said  that  he  was  a  relative  of  Phaeton  changed  into  a  swan  by 
Apollo,  after  the  fall  of  Phaeton  from  the  heavens;  Hipparchus  and  Ptolemy  called  it  simply 
Ornithos  (the  Bird) ;  Manetho,  the  Hen ;  the  Arabs,  the  Pigeon ;  but  lately  the  name  Swan  is 
generally  recognized;  nevertheless  it  is  a  very  old  constellation,  and  was  already  in  Eudoxus' 
sphere. 


DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.A.     1* 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     IS* 

0     DECL. 

h.  m. 

o      / 

h.  m. 

0        / 

adbl. 

2.0 

20.37 

+44.51 

19 

5.6 

19.45 

+38.25 

pdbl. 

3.4  yel. 

19.26 

27.43 

20  d 

5.5 

19.48 

52.42 

y 

2.5 

20.18 

39.52 

27  fcl 

5.3 

20.  2 

35.39 

8  bin. 

2.9 

19.41 

44.50 

28Z>2 

5.0 

20.  5 

36.29 

€ 

2.7  yel. 

20.41 

33.31 

29  b3 

5.6 

20.10 

36.26 

<dbl. 

3.3 

21.  8 

29.44 

32 

5.5  red 

20.12 

47.21 

i? 

4.6 

19.52 

34.46 

33 

4.4 

20.11 

56.12 

0 

4.6 

19.33 

49.56 

34  P  (1600) 

5.5 

20.13 

37.40 

I 

4.0 

19.27 

51.28 

39 

5.0  red 

20.19 

31.48 

tc 

4.1 

19.14 

53.  9 

41 

4.8 

20.25 

29.57 

A.  bin. 

5.3 

20.43 

36.  3 

47 

5.2  org. 

20.30 

34.51 

M  trip. 

4.6 

21.39 

28.12 

48 

5.5 

20.33 

31.  9 

V 

4.2 

20.53 

40.42 

52  dbl. 

4.6 

20.41 

30.16 

£ 

4.1  red 

21.  1 

43.26 

59  trip. 

5.0 

20.56 

47.  3 

30  qdl. 

4.0  red 

20.10 

46.24 

61  bin. 

5.4 

21.  2 

38.10 

32 

4.5 

20.12 

47.21 

68  A 

5.0 

21.14 

43.27 

TTl 

4.8 

21.38 

50.38 

70 

5.5 

21.22 

36.35 

7r2 

4.5 

21.42 

48.45 

71  S 

5.4  red 

21.26 

46.  0 

P 

4.2 

21.30 

45.  3 

72 

5.5 

21.30 

38.  0 

(T 

4.4 

21.13 

38.54 

74 

5.5 

21.32 

39.53 

T 

4.0 

21.10 

87.32 

16  C  dbl. 

6.0 

19.39 

50.15 

v  qdl. 

4.6 

21.13 

34.23 

2  2486  dbl. 

6.6 

19.09 

49.37 

4> 

5.0 

19.35 

29.52 

Temp,  of  1876 

21.37 

42.18 

xi  dbl. 

5.3 

19.42 

33.28 

R 

7.V.  org. 

19.34 

49.56 

X2 

5.V.  red 

19.46 

32.37 

T 

5.V. 

20.42 

33.56 

•Jrdbl. 

5.3 

19.53 

52.  7 

U 

7.V.  red 

20.16 

47.31 

«i 

6.0  yel. 

20.23 

48.59 

8.0  red 

19.36 

32.21 

<o2  dbl. 

5.0 

20.26 

48.33 

6.7  red 

21.32 

44.50 

0,3  dbl. 

5.9  yel. 

20.28 

48.49 

6.0  org. 

20.13 

40.  0 

6.3  org. 

20.18 

40.39 

2 

5.3 

19.20 

29.24 

6.3  org. 

20.49 

32.59 

3 

6.0  red 

19.20 

24.42 

6.5  org. 

20.  2 

34.34 

4 

5.0 

19.22 

36.  6 

6.7  org. 

19.57 

36.46 

8 

5.0 

19.27 

34.13 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Deneb—For  this  star  a  negative  parallax  (— 0".042±0".047)  was  obtained  by  Mr. 
Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  in  1887,  and  its  distance  can  not  be  calculated. 

X1  (Chi)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.3  and  8;  distance  26";  near  it,  15'  S.  S.  W.,  there  are  two  stars 
of  the  8th  magnitude  at  3"  only,  revolving  around  each  other  and  going  in  the  same 
direction ;  they  most  likely  form  a  part  of  the  same  system.  (See  \  (chi~).) 

X2  (CM)— The  star  below  x  (chi)  on  our  planisphere  is  a  remarkable  variable,  varying  from  the 
4.5  to  the  13th  magnitude  in  a  period  of  406  days,  with  some  irregularities;  it  was 
observed  in  1687  by  G.  Kirch,  and  the  period  fixed  by  Maraldi;  it  is  a  sun  which  sends 
4,600  times  more  light  and  heat  at  the  first  magnitude  (4.5)  than  it  does  at  the  second 
(13th)  magnitude. 


26 


CYGNUS. 


Fig.  54.— Diagram  showing  the  periodical  variations  of  x- 


34  P.— Between  y  (gamma)  and  rj  (eta) ;  was  first  seen  by  Blaeu,  August  18th,  1600,  and  noted 
3d  magnitude;  in  1622  it  was  of  the  5th  magnitude;  from  1655  to  1660  Cassini  saw  it  of 
3d  magnitude;  and  the  31st  October,  1660,  it  came  down  to  the  5.5;  from  1662  to  1666  it 
was  not  visible  to  the  naked  eye ;  it  was  noted  in  1667-82  and  1715  of  the  6th  magnitude ; 
in  1793  and  1807  Piazzi  saw  it  of  the  5th  magnitude ;  Pigott  gave  it  a  period  of  variability 
of  18  years,  but  to-day  it  seems  to  be  stationary  at  5.5. 

T.  (1670)— West  of  Albireo,  Father  Anthelme,  at  Dijon,  saw  a  star  of  3d  magnitude  the  20th  of 
June ;  the  llth  of  July  it  was  of  the  4th  magnitude ;  August  10th  of  the  5th,  and  it  kept 
going  down;  but  on  March  17th,  1671,  it  was  found  of  the  4th  magnitude;  in  April  and 
May  Cassini  noted  it  brighter  than  £  (beta);  then  it  came  down  again  so  quickly  that  at 
the  end  of  August  it  was  no  more  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  in  1672  Hevelius  saw  it  of  3d 
magnitude,  but  it  disappeared  again  in  September  of  the  same  year;  since  then  nobody 
has  seen  it.  Flammarion  adds :  There  is  at  less  than  one  minute  of  the  position  given 
for  this  star  a  variable  of  from  8.6  to  9.3  magnitude  (S  in  Vulpecula);  perhaps  it  is  the 
temporary  of  1670?  watch  it!  (See  between  Albireo  and  15  of  Vulpecula.) 


Fig.  55.— Diagram  showing  the  variations  of  the  Temporary  of  1876. 

T  (1876)— Near  p  (rho),  about  on  the  line  passing  through  a  (alpha)  and  £  (zf),  Mr.  Schmidt,  of 
Athens,  on  the  24th  of  November,  1876,  saw  a  star  of  the  3d  magnitude ;  he  was  observ- 
ing this  region  four  days  previously,  but  did  not  notice  anything  there ;  it  soon  came 
down,  and  on  the  5th  of  December  it  was  of  the  5th  magnitude ;  Father  Secchi  found  it 
of  7th  magnitude  the  5th  of  January,  1877 ;  its  spectrum  confirmed  the  idea  of  a  fierce 
conflagration;  in  September,  1877,  Lord  Lindsay  found  that  it  had  all  the  appearance 
of  a  nebula;  it  is  now  of  the  12th  magnitude.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  mostly  all 
temporaries  are  in  the  region  of  the  "  Milky  Way." 
There  are  a  great  many  more  variables  in  this  constellation ;  we  will  note  only : 

K.— In  the  same  field  with  9  (theta),  which  varies  from  the  7th  to  14th  magnitude  in  405  days. 

T.— Near  e  (epsilon)-,  varies  from  5th  to  6th  irregularly;  visible  with  an  opera  glass. 

S.— Varies  from  9th  to  13th  in  322  days. 

U.— Varies  from  7  to  10.5  magnitude  in  465  days. 

/a  (Beta)  A Ibireo— Double ;  magnitudes  3.5  and  6.0;  distance,  34";  gold-yellow  and  sapphire; 
easy  pair,  and  one  of  the  finest. 

02  (Omwron)— Is  quadruple;  triple  in  small  telescope;  magnitudes  4.3-7.5  and  5.5;  distances, 
107"  and  338";  the  principal  is  yellow,  the  companions  blue;  very  easy  with  an  opera 
glass ;  nice  field  of  small  stars. 

$  (Psi)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.3  and  8;  distance,  3".5. 

n  (Mw)-Triple ;  magnitudes  4.6-6.0  and  7.5 ;  distances,  3".7  and  210" ;  the  third  one  forms  only  a 
group  of  perspective. 


CYGNUS. 


27 


Fig.  56.-Double  Star  ft  Fig.  57.— Binary  61. 

61— Binary;  magnitudes  5.5  and  6.0;  distance,  20";  rapid  motion,  5".16  per  year  toward  <r 
(Sigma),  near  which  it  will  be  in  1,500  years;  4,000  years  ago  it  was  near  e  (epsilon);  if  all 
the  stars  had  such  motion,  all  the  constellations  would  change  in  less  than  1,000  years. 
The  parallax  of  this  star  has  been  determined  many  times  from  1838  by  Bessel  to  1888 
by  Belopolsky,  and  fixed  as  the  result  of  all  determinations  at  0".44  (Mr.  Asaph  Hall, 
of  Washington  Observatory,  gave  0".270±0".010— far  away  from  all  other  observers). 
It  may  be  interesting  to  make  a  table  of  all  the  measures: 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

Bessel,  1838-40 0".348  ±0".010 

Auwers,  1868 0".423±0".013 

C.  A.  F.  Peters,  1842-43 0".349±0".080 

Johnson,  1852-53 0".402±0".016 

iO".437±0".069 
0".376±0".044 

|  0".488±0".080 

10".493±0".055 

The  parallax  adopted,  0".44,  represents  469,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the 
sun,  or  40  trillions  of  miles ;  the  light  takes  7  years  and  3  months  to  reach  us ;  it  is  the  nearest 
star  visible  to  the  naked  eye  from  our  country ;  a  (alpha)  Centauri,  being  too  far  south  to  be 
seen  from  our  latitudes,  is  the  only  one  nearer  to  our  system.  (Revue  d'Ast.,  US89.) 


Socolof,  1863-66. 


AUTHORS.  PARALLAX. 

O.  Struve,  1852-53 0".506  ±0".028 

J.  Lamp,  1883 0".506±0".023 

Auwers,  1860-62 0".564±0".016 

R.  Ball,  1877-78 0".465±0".050 

R.  Ball,  1877-78 0".468  ±0".032 

Asaph  Hall,  1880-8G 0".270±0".010 

Pritchard,  1886-87 0".433±0".014 

Belopolsky,  1888 0".535  ±0".092 


MOOO         +3000      42000        -flOOO 


-1000        -2000        -3000         -JOOO        -5000 


Fig.  58.— Diagram  showing  the  motion  of  the  star  61  for  10,000  years. 

16  c.— Double;  magnitudes  6.0  and  6.5;  distance,  37";  easy  pair. 

8  (Delta)— Binary;  magnitudes  2.9  and  8;  distance,  1".6;  white  and  blue;  the  companion  is  a 
variable,  but  it  is  a  difficult  pair;  time  of  revolution,  336  years. 

52— Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and  9;  distance,  7";  the  first  is  a  variable  orange,  4th  to  6th  mag- 
nitude, and  the  companion  is  blue. 

2  2486— Binary ;  magnitudes  6  and  6.5;  distance,  in  1885,10";  it  is  also  in  rapid  motion.  Mr. 
Ball,  from  observations  taken  in  1880-81,  gives  for  its  parallax  0".482±0".054,  which  repre- 
sents a  distance  of  39  trillions  of  miles,  or  428,000  times  the  distance  of  the  sun  from 
the  earth;  the  light  takes  over  6  years  arid  8  months  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1885; 
page  312).  Prof.  Hall,  in  1885,  found  a  negative  parallax  (— 0".021),  and  the  distance  is 
doubtful,  so  far.  (See  S.  W.  of  0  (theta).) 


THE  MILKY  WAY. 


VIA  LACTEA. 

Via  Lactea,  the  Galaxy,  or  "Milky  Way"— Is  composed  entirely  of  suns  like  our  own,  millions 
and  millions  of  miles  distant  from  each  other. 


Fig.  59.— A  portion  of  the  Milky  Way  in  Scutum  Sobiesii. 


In  contemplating  the  heavens  at  night,  especially  in  summer,  when  the  sky  is  very  clear 
and  the  moon  is  invisible,  we  can  see  it  extending  from  one  point  of  the  horizon  to  the  other,  de- 
scribing nearly  half  of  a  circumference  above  us,  and  if  we  could  see  through  the  earth  it  would 
appear  at  the  antipodes,  making  a  complete  circle;  consequently  the  earth,  the  sun  and  the 
other  planets  are  in  its  center  or  some  other  part  of  it,  but  undoubtedly  in  it.  Its  light  is  not  uni- 
form ;  when  the  stars  are  close  together  and  numerous  the  region  is  very  bright,  and  the  bright- 
ness depends  upon  their  number;  some  parts  are  poor  and  some  are  entirely  without  stars. 


Fig.  60.— Holes  in  the  Milky  Way.    From  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Trouvelot. 


Fig.  60,  taken  from  a  sketch  made  by  Mr.  Trouvelot,  is  a  miniature  of  the  Coal  Sacks,  and  could  be  seen  in  constella- 
tion Sagittarius,  between  y  (gamma)  and  the  star  3  X. 


THE  MILKY  WAY. 


There  is  a  very  white  region  north  of  Aquila;  another  in  Scutum  Sobiesii;  another  in 
Sagittarius;  three  more  near  a  (alpha),  /3  (beta)  and  y  (gamma)  in  Cygnus ;  another  in  Per- 
seus. There  is  a  dark  region  between  a  (alpha)  and  /3  (beta) in  Cassiopeia;  another  in  Cygnus, 
etc.  Its  width  is  not  regular;  in  Cygnus  it  separates  into  two  branches,  the  principal  one 
passes  through  Aquila,  Scutum  Sobiesii,  Sagittarius  and  Scorpius;  the  other  goes  through 
Ophiuchus,  the  Serpent,  and  seems  to  fade  away  in  Scorpius ;  they  reunite  in  Centaurus.  In 
Triangulum  Australis  it  is  very  bright,  passes  over  the  Southern  Cross,  where  is  seen  a  black 
hole  in  pear  shape,  8° by  5°,  called  the  "Coal  Sack,"  containing  only  a  small  star  of  the  6th 
magnitude,  hardly  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  then  it  comes  to  its  narrowest  size,  measuring 
only  4°  in  width,  when  it  has  no  less  than  16°  in  Cygnus  and  22°  between  Ophiuchus  and 
Antinous;  it  gets  wider  in  Argo  Navis;  touches  Canis  Major,  Monoceros,  Orion,  Gemini  and 
Taurus;  becomes  irregular  in  Auriga;  passes  through  Perseus,  Andromeda  and  Cassiopea, 
and  then  comes  back  to  the  starting  point  in  Cygnus. 


Fig.  61.— The  Milky  Way  and  the  Nebulae  (from  E.  A.  Proctor). 


Notwithstanding  the  beautiful  researches  of  W.  Herschel,  John  Herschel,  W.  Struve, 
Maedler,  Secchi  and  Richard  Proctor,  it  would  be  premature  to  give  the  shape  of  the  Galaxy, 
but  as  its  density  seems  to  be  about  twice  as  great  near  the  18th  hour  of  right  ascension  as 
at  the  6th  hour,  we  have  very  good  reasons  to  believe  that  we  are  nearer  to  Sirius  than  to 
Scutum  Sobiesii  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  184).  It  was  in  trying  to  figure  out  the  number  of 
stars  of  the  "  Milky  Way"  that  W.  Herschel  introduced  his  famous  method  of  "gauging  the 
heavens,"  by  the  means  of  which  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  composed  of  no  less 
than  18,000,000  of  stars.  Looking  through  his  telescope  and  counting  the  stars  passing  through 
the  field  he  figured  out  116,000  of  them  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  the  richest  part  of  it. 
In  Cygnus,  in  a  field  of  the  apparent  diameter  of  the  moon,  there  were  from  1,800  to  2,000  stars ; 
in  Aquila  some  regions  have  as  many  as  2,300  for  the  same  field,  and  in  Scutum  Sobiesii,  in  a 
space  of  five  square  degrees,  the  amount  reaches  the  extraordinary  number  of  331,000  stars. 
Some  regions  contain  only  500,  200,  and  80  stars,  and  even,  in  some  places  in  a  field  of  15  min- 
utes, not  a  star  appears.  The  "  gauges"  of  W.  Herschel  and  W.  Struve  give  for  the  proportion 
of  the  stars  in  all  the  heavens : 

In  the  "  Milky  Way" 122  stars  for  a  field  of  15  minutes  in  diameter. 

15°  from  it,  one  way  or  the  other 30       " 

30°        M  "  "  18 

45°        "  "  "  10        " 

60°        u  "  "  6        -" 

750  U  U  »4  4 


THE  MILKY  WAY— VULPECULA. 


This  plainly  shows  that  there  are  over  thirty  times  as  many  stars  in  the  plan  of  the 
Galaxy  as  at  90°  each  way  from  it,  and  that  their  density  progressively  decreases  according  to 
their  distance  from  it.  The  distribution  of  the  nebulae  is  just  the  opposite.  K.  Proctor  made 
a  diagram  illustrating  the  remarkable  fact  that  their  agglomeration  is  the  greatest  at  90° 
each  way  from  the  "  Milky  Way;"  outside  of  the  Galaxy  he  shows  4,053  white  spots,  each  one 
representing  a  nebula.  Still,  this  immense  cluster,  of  which  our  sun  is  a  small  star,  must  not 
be  considered  the  largest  of  the  universe ;  it  would  be  the  same  illusion  as  if  we  were  suppos- 
ing the  sun  making  its  revolution  around  the  earth.  "If  the  light  coming  from  one  point  at 
the  edge  of  the  'Milky  Way'  and  going  in  the  diametrically  opposite  direction  would  take 
3,000  years  to  reach  the  other  side,  this  cluster,  seen  at  334  times  its  size,  would  be  only  10  min- 
utes in  diameter,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  no  less  than  1,000,000  years  to  finish  its 
journey"  (from  F.  Hoefer's  biography  of  W.  Herschel).  That  distance  is  nothing  for  the 
Infinite— when  we  reach  it  we  have  not  made  a  step.  We  certainly  would  not  see  the  con- 
stellations as  they  appear  from  here,  but  other  marvels  would  cause  admiration.  The  earth 
is  indeed  very  small. 


VULPECULA. 


Vulpecula,  or  the  Fox,  was  formed  in  constellation  by  Hevelius,  about  1660  A.  D.  He 
represented  this  little  animal  carrying  a  goose  that  he  had  stolen,  and  placed  it  between  the 
Eagle  and  the  Vulture  (Lyra),  because  he  says  that  the  fox  is  astute,  voracious  and  ferocious, 
like  those  birds. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


6  a  dbl. 

4.4 

idbl. 

5.0 

4 

5.2 

9 

5.5 

12 

5.8 

13 

5.0 

15 

5.5 

16  dbl. 

5.7 

17 

5.5 

19 
16  Hev. 

6.0  org. 
5.2 

23 

5.0  org. 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

K. A.     18 

W     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

19.24 

24.25 

28 

5.4 

19.11 

+21.11 

29 

5.3 

19.20 

19.34 

30 

5.8 

19.29 

19.30 

31 

5.5 

19.46 

22.18 

32 

5.7 

19.48 

23.46 

K 

8.V.  OFg. 

19.56 

27.26 

S 

8.V.  org. 

19.57 

24.37 

T 

6.V. 

20.  2 

23.17 

H.  VIII,  20 

cL 

20.  7 

26.27 

M.  27 

neb. 

20.  7 

26.  8 

2  2245  dbl. 

6.5 

20.11 

27.27 

Temp.  Of  1670 

.... 

POSITION 

B.  A.     l["~ 

$0     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

20.33 

+23.42 

20.33 

20.46 

20.40 

24.50 

20.47 

26.38 

20.49 

27.36 

20.59 

23.21 

19.43 

26.59 

19.47 

24.41 

20.  7 

26.21 

lfe.54 

22.24 

17.51 

18.21 

19.43 

27.  2 

NOTES. 

M.  27— Is  the  remarkable  nebula  called  "  dumb-bell,"  from  its  shape;  it  contains  many  small 
stars;  it  looks  like  a  double  nebula  with  a  small  telescope;  larger  instruments  unite  the 
two  like  a  dumb-bell;  still  stronger  power  will  modify  it  more  (Figs.  62  and  63). 


Fig.  62.— Nebula,  M.  27,  in  a  good  telescope. 


VU  LPECU  LA  —  S  AGITTA. 


Fig.  63.— Nebula,  M.  27,  in  Lord  Kosse's  telescope. 

H.  VIII,  20— Cluster,  near  16;  it  is  a  cluster  of  104  stars  from  the  9th  to  the  13th  magnitude; 

nice  field. 

R.— Varies  from  8th  to  13th  in  137H  days. 
S.— Varies  from  8.6  to  9.3  in  68  days  (between  15  and  Albireo).    (See  the  temporary  of  1670  in 

Cygnus.) 
T.— Varies  from  5th  to  6th  magnitude,  and  perhaps  less. 


SAGITTA. 

Sagitta,  or  the  Arrow,  is  the  smallest  constellation,  but  nevertheless  one  of  the  oldest, 
being  already  marked  in  Eudoxus'  sphere. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


Y 
8 

e  dbl. 


trip. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.6 

4.5 
3.8 
4.3 
5.7 
5.5 
5.5 
6.2 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

I 

iT.  A.     IS 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

II.  A. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

19.35 

+17.44 

10 

6.0 

19.51 

19.36 

17.11 

11 

6.0 

19.52 

19.53 

19.10 

13 

6.0 

19.55 

19.42 

18.14 

15 

6.0 

19.59 

19.32 

16.11 

K 

8.V.  org. 

20.  9 

19.44 

18.50 

* 

6.5  org. 

20.  3 

20.  0 

19.39 

H.  VI,  11 

cl 

19.25 

20.  5 

20.33 

M.  71 

cl 

19.49 

DECL,. 

O        / 

16.19 
16.27 
17.11 
16.45 
16.22 
16.20 
20.  1 
18.28 


NOTES. 

e  (Epsilon)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.7  and  8;  distance,  92" ;  very  easy  pair. 

£  (Zeta)  —Double ;  magnitudes  5.5  and  9 ;  distance,  8".6;  these  two  stars  are  sometimes  white 
and  blue,  sometimes  yellow  and  blue,  sometimes  yellow  and  violet,  sometimes  yellow 
and  red  and  sometimes  blue  and  violet— very  curious  variations;  it  is  also  in  rapid 
proper  motion,  60"  every  100  years. 

6  (Theta)—  Triple;  magnitudes  6.2-8  and  7;  distances,  11"  and  76";  very  easy  for  small 
instruments.  The  first  two  stars,  generally  called  A  and  B,  have  the  same  proper 
motion;  the  third  one,  C,  is  stationary  and  independent  of  the  others. 


32 


SAGITTA-LYRA. 


H.  VI,  11— Is  a  nice  cluster,  visible  with  an  opera  glass,  formed  of  stars  from  the  6th  to  the 
10th  magnitudes ;  a  large  field  and  small  power  offer  a  beautiful  sight  (see  in  the  direction 
of  ft  (beta)  to  a  (alpha)  near  9  of  s 

Vulpecula). 

13— Is  a  bright  star  of  the  6th  magni- 
tude, shining  like  a  golden 
pearl;  in  the  field  will  be  found 
a  nice  little  star,  very  red,  and 
a  pretty  little  pair;  beautiful 
sight. 

S 


Fig.  64.— Double  Star  £ 


Fig.  65.— Triple  Star  0 


M.  71— Is  also  a  cluster,  marked  in  our  planisphere  near  £  (zeta). 

R.— Varies  from  8.6  to  10.1  magnitude  in  70  days  and  10  hours.    (See  north  of  p  (rho)  of  Aquila 

in  the  direction  of  0  (theta).) 

This  little  constellation  is  very  rich  in  curiosities. 


LYRA. 

This  constellation  represents  the  lyre  or  harp  of  Orpheus  which  was  given  to  him  by 
Apollo ;  it  was  afterward  called  the  Turtle,  and  still  later,  the  Falling  Vulture.  Vega  comes 
from  the  Arab  Wa-ki  (Al-nasr-al-waki). 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


(Vega)  dbl. 

1.2 

/sqdl. 

3.V. 

ydbl. 

3.3 

8  dbl. 

4.4  red 

ebin. 

4.4 

£  dbl. 

4.4 

rjdbl. 

4.6  red 

Odbl. 

4.2 

i 

5.0 

K 

4.7 

A 

5.7  org. 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

R. A. 

1880    DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

0         / 

18.33 

+38.40 

t* 

18.46 

33.13 

v  mult. 

18.54 

32.32 

16  dbl. 

18.50 

36.45 

13  R 

18.40 

39.31 

34931 

18.41 

37.29 

33739 

19.10 

38.56 

M.  56 

19.12 

37.55 

M.  57 

19.  3 

35.55 

* 

18.16 

36.   1 

* 

18.55 

31.58 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.5 
6.0 

5.5 

4.V.  yel. 
5.0 
5.4 
cl. 
neb. 
6.5  red 
8.0  red 


POSITION 
K.  A.     1886     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 

18.20  +39.27 
32.32 
46.46 
43.47 
26.31 
42.  7 
29.59 
32.53 
39.11 


18.45 
18.59 
18.52 
18.42 
18.12 
19.12 
18.49 
18.39 
18.28 


36.54 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Vega— Double ;  magnitudes  1.2  and  9;  distance,  47";  difficult,  on  account  of  the 
brilliancy  of  Vega;  it  is  not  a  binary;  the  little  star  is  independent  of  it,  and  has  been 
used  to  determine  the  parallax  of  Vega,  which  is  noted  0".l5  (Revue  d'Ast.,  Dec.,  1889; 
page  446).  It  represents  1,375,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  12 
trillions  of  miles ;  it  takes  21  years  and  8  months  for  the  light  to  reach  us.  Vega  is  com- 
ing toward  us  with  an  approximate  velocity  of  44  miles  per  second ;  but  as  our  system 
travels  itself  in  that  direction  (toward  Hercules)  a  part  of  it  belongs  to  the  sun.  By 
the  effects  of  precession  of  the  equinoxes,  Vega  was  the  "Polar  Star  "  of  the  earth  14,000 
years  ago,  and  will  be  "  Polar  Star  "  again  in  12,000  years;  it  is  one  of  the  brightest  stars. 

/3  (Beta)  is  also  called  Sheliak  and  y  (gamma)  Salaphat. 


LYRA. 


«  (Epsilon)—  Is  a  quadruple  composed  of  two  binaries;  «i  magnitudes  6  and  7;  distance,  3".2; 
re  volution  about  1,800  years;  and  e2,  binary ;  magnitudes  5.5  and  6;  distance,  2".4;  revolu- 
tion about  3,700  years.    The  dis- 
tance between  el  and  e2  is  3'  27".  8 
The  revolution  of  the  two  sys- 
tems around  their  center  of 
gravity  must  take  about  1,000,000 
years!  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page 
216.)    Large  telescopes  show 
several  small  stars  between  the 
binaries. 


Fig.  66.— Double  Star  Vega. 


Fig.  67.— Quadruple  Star  e.    Scale,  100"  =  1  inch. 


<  (Zeta)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.5  and  5.5;  distance,  44";  yellow  and  green;  one  of  the  nicest 
pair ;  very  easy. 

T?  (Eta)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and  9;  distance,  28" ;  delicate  pair;  pale  yellow  and  violet. 

$  (Delta)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.5  and  5.5;  distance,  12';  visible  with  the  naked  eye  and  opera 
glass ;  rich  field. 

ft  (Beta)— Varies  from  3.4  to  4.5  in  12  days  21  hours  and  51  minutes;  Father  Secchi  saw  its 
spectrum  one-day-of  its  maximum  similar  to  y  (gamma)  of  Cassiopea,  indicating  a  fierce 
fire,  but  never  noticed  it  after;  it  has  three  little  companions  in  the  field. 

2  3130— Binary;  magnitudes  7.4  and  11;  distance,  2/7.  Principal  star  thought  to  be  a  close 
pair  by  Otto  Struve. 

13  R.— Varies  from  the  4th  to  the  5th  magnitude  in  46  days;  Flamsteed  noted  it  of  6th  mag- 
nitude at  the  end  of  the  17th  century. 

M.  57— Is  the  famous  ring  nebula;  it  is  an  ellipse  78"  long,  60"  wide;  Herschel  called  it  "per- 
forated nebula;"  but  in  large  telescopes  the  center  is  filled  up  with  fine  lines  and  nebul- 
osities; it  is  most  likely  a  system  in  formation  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  217);  it  is 
between  /3  (beta)  and  y  (gamma). 


Fig.  68.— Nebula,  M.  57. 
In  common  telescope. 


Fig.  70.— Cluster,  M.  56. 


Fig.  69.— Nebula  M.  57,  in  Lord  Rosse's  telescope. 

M.  56— Is  a  globular  cluster,  the  opposite  of  the  above;  the  center  being  very  bright,  and  the 
light  gradually  fading  away  on  the  edges;  it  is  formed  of  several  hundred  stars,  and  will 
be  found  about  half  way  between  Albireo  and  y  (gamma) ;  diameter  3  minutes. 


34 


HEKCULES. 


HERCULES. 

Hercules,  or  "  The  Kneeler,"  is  an  old  constellation,  appearing  on  the  sphere  of  Eudoxus, 


but  the  name  Hercules  is  comparatively  new. 
an  edition  of  Hyginus,  dated  A.  D.  1485. 


C.  Flammarion  noticed  it  for  the  first  time  in 


POSITION 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

,—    -  — 

—  *  .  —  v 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

  *  s 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.  A.     1 

880     DECL,. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

h.  m. 

0       / 

adbl. 

3.V.  org. 

17.  9 

+14.32 

13  p 

7.5 

16.  9 

+11.48 

0dbl. 

2.4  yel. 

16.25 

21.45 

8q 

6.0 

16.  6 

16.59 

•ydbl. 

3.6 

16.17 

19.27 

5r 

5.8 

15.56 

18.  9 

a  bin. 

3.6 

17.10 

24.59 

s 

6.0 

16.46 

30.  1 

€ 

3.5 

16.56 

81.  6 

107  t 

5.5 

18.16 

28.49 

£bin. 

2.9 

16.37 

31.49 

68  M,  dbl. 

4.V.  red 

17.13 

33.14 

Tjdbl. 

3.5 

16.39 

39.  9 

72  W 

5.3 

17.16 

32.37 

9 

3.8 

17.52 

37.16 

11  X 

6.0 

17.24 

48.22 

i  dbl. 

3.7 

17.36 

46.  4 

82  y 

5.8 

17.34 

48.38 

«dbl. 

5.5 

16.  3 

17.22 

88  z 

7.0 

17.47 

48.26 

Adbl. 

5.0  yel. 

17.26 

26.12 

42  trip. 

4.9 

16.35 

49.10 

^dbl. 

3.8 

17.42 

27.48 

52 

5.2 

16.46 

46.12 

V 

4.4 

17.54 

30.12 

53 

5.8 

16.48 

31.54 

s 

4.0 

17.53 

29.16 

60  dbl. 

5.0 

17.  0 

12.55 

0 

4.0 

18.  3 

28.45 

70  dbl. 

5.0 

17.16 

24.35 

IT 

3.4  red 

17.11 

36.57 

93 

5.0 

17.55 

16.46 

P  bin. 

4.0 

17.20 

37.16 

95  dbl. 

4.8 

17.57 

21.36 

<T 

4.3 

16.30 

42.41 

96 

5.0 

17.57 

20.51 

r 

3.5 

16.17 

46.36 

100  dbl. 

6.0 

18.  3 

26.  5 

ti 

4.5 

16.  0 

46.23 

101 

5.2 

18.  4 

20.  2 

4 

4.0 

16.  5 

45.16 

102 

4.4 

18.  4 

20.49 

X 

4.7 

15.48 

42.47 

109 

4.2  yel. 

18.19 

21.43 

to 

5.0 

16.20 

14.19 

110 

4.2 

18.41 

20.26 

111 

4.0 

18.41 

18.  3 

KM  A 

5.0  org. 

18.  7 

31.22 

113 

4.5 

18.50 

17.58 

99Z> 

5.0 

18.  2 

30.34 

P.  XVI,  279 

5.8 

16.58 

14.16 

61  C 

5.7 

17.  4 

36.  6 

31312 

5.0 

17.  7 

40.55 

59  d 

5.2 

16.57 

33.44 

31694 

5.8 

17.19 

40.  6 

69  e 

4.8 

17.14 

37.25 

E 

8.V.  red 

16.  1 

18.42 

90  f 

5.2 

17.49 

40.  1 

S 

6.V.  org. 

16.46 

15.  9 

30flT 

5.V.  red 

16.25 

42.  9 

T 

7.V.  org. 

18.  5 

31.  0 

297l 

5.3 

16.27 

11.46 

U 

7.V.  red 

16.20 

19.10 

43  i,  dbl. 

5.8  red 

16.40 

8.48 

W 

8.V. 

16.31 

37.35 

47  fc 

5.8 

16.44 

7.28 

* 

7.0  red 

16.43 

42.27 

45?  . 

5.8 

16.42 

5.28 

* 

6.6  org. 

15.59 

47.34 

36m 

6.0 

16.35 

4.28 

* 

7.0  org. 

18.14 

23.14 

28n 

5.9 

16.27 

5.47 

M.  13 

cl. 

16.37 

36.41 

210 

6.2 

16.18 

7.14 

M.  92 

cl. 

17.13 

43.15 

NOTES. 

a  ( Alpha)  Ras  A Igethi— Double  variable ;  magnitudes  3.1  to  3.9  and  5.5 ;  distance,  4".7 ;  beautiful 
pair;  orange  and  emerald;  very  easy.  Mr.  Jacob,  in  1856-58,  in  using  the  companion,  ob- 
tained a  parallax  =0"  .062  ±0".007;  but  as  they  form  a  physical  pair  the  parallax  is  not  sure. 

0  (Beta)  Korneforos—Is  also  double. 

P  (Rho)— Binary ;  magnitudes  4.0  and  5.5;  distance,  in  1880,  3".7;  nice  pair. 

K  (Kappa)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.5  and  6.4;  distance,  30";  this  easy  pair  looks  like  Mizar  and 
Alcor,  having  in  the  field  another  star  of  the  6th  magnitude,  north  of  it. 

95— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  5.8;  distance,  6";  gold-yellow  and  pale  azure ;  very  beautiful 
pair. 

8  (Delta)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.6  and  8 ;  distance,  in  1880, 18 • ' ;  change  from  proper  motion  ; 
the  first  is  bright  blue,  the  companion  violet. 


HERCULES. 


Fig.  71.— Double  Star  a 


Fig.  72.— Double  Star  95. 


(Zeta)— Binary;  magnitudes  3  and  6;  distance,  in  1880, 1".3;  rapid  orbital  motion;  time34H 
years;  the  distance  varies  from  less  than  0".6  to  1".5;  and  good  power  is  required  to 
separate  it.  The  companion  disappears  for  about  three  years  at  each  revolution,  when 
it  comes  closer  than  0".6  from  the  main  star,  as  was  the  case  in  1795,  which  was  the  first 
occupation  of  a  star  by  another  star  ever  observed. 


low 


*    I  't 

Fig.  73.— Apparent  Orbit  of  £ 


Fig.  74.— Cluster  M.  13. 


M.  13— Is  one  of  the  finest  clusters,  8'  in  diameter,  and  is  composed  of  more  than  5,000  stars 
from  the  10th  to  the  15th  magnitude ;  visible  to  the  naked  eye  on  clear  nights,  when 
there  is  no  moon;  it  is  about  one-third  the  distance  between  -n  (eta)  and  £  (zeta). 

M.  92— Is  another  nice  cluster  of  about  the  same  diameter,  but  not  so  easy;  see  between 
31,312  and  i  (iota). 

68  M— Varies  from  the  4th  to  the  6th  magnitude  in  40  days ;  it  is  a  double  star. 

70— Double,  most  likely  variable;  noted  5th  magnitude  by  Hevelius,  in  1660;  of  4th  and  5th  by 
Piazzi;  of  6th  by  Argelander;  three  times  of  4th  magnitude  by  Lalande;  of  51/zth  byFlam- 
marion.  Piazzi  saw  it  twice  double,  but  generally  single;  C.  Mayer  saw  it  double;  W. 
Herschel  found  it  single ;  Sir  James  South  noted  at  3'  38"  a  companion  of  9th  magnitude 
one  time,  of  10th  another  time,  and  of  llth  still  another  time.  Flammarion  noted  it  of 
9th  magnitude  in  1882  (Les  Etoiles,  page  225).  It  is  a  little  south  of  the  line  between 
S  (delta)  and  A  (lambda),  nearer  to  the  first  one. 


HERCULES  — AQUILA  AND  ANTING  US. 


Mr.  Belopolsky,  in  1888,  obtained  for  rj  (eta)  a  parallax=0".40±0".072;  and  for  «•  (pi)  a 
parallax=0".ll  ±0".063. 

The  sun,  planets,  moon,  earth— our  entire  system— are  now  going  toward  a  part  of  this 
constellation,  marked  on  our  planisphere.  Are  we  going  directly  in  that  direction?  are  we 
describing  an  orbit  around  some  other  star?  The  future  will  decide. 


AQUILA    AND    ANTINOUS. 

Aquila  is,  according  to  some  authors,  the  eagle  of  Jupiter,  and  according  to  others, 
Merops,  which  was  changed  into  an  eagle  and  placed  among  the  stars  by  Juno.  It  is  an  old 
constellation  already  mentioned  by  Eudoxus. 

Antinous  was  a  young  man  of  great  beauty  who  was  drowned  in  the  Nile  132  years  A.  D. 
It  was  introduced  as  a  constellation  during  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Adrian,  who  loved  him 
so  much  that  he  erected  temples  in  his  honor  and  gave  his  name  to  a  city. 


.toil*  .NA- 
TION. 

sa.A.\xi*  ±- 
TUBE. 

K.A.     1 

380    DECL. 

M0MBOUV 

TION. 

iu.Aort  A- 
TUDE. 

K.A.     18J 

0     DECL. 

h.  m. 

o       / 

h.  m. 

0        / 

a  dbl. 

1.5 

19.45 

+  8.33 

15  h,  dbl. 

5.7 

18.59 

—  4.13 

0  dbl. 

4.0 

19.49 

+  6.  6 

4 

5.5 

18.39 

+  1.56 

y  dbl. 

3.3  red 

19.41 

+10.19 

5  trip. 

6.0 

18.40 

—  1.  5 

£  dbl. 

3.4 

19.19 

+  2.52 

11  dbl. 

5.5 

18.54 

+13.37 

f  dbl. 

4.1 

18.54 

+14.54 

12 

4.0  yel. 

18.55 

—  5.58 

£dbl. 

3.0 

19.  0 

+13.41 

18 

5.5 

19.  1 

+10.53 

i) 

3.V. 

19.46 

+  0.42 

19 

5.8 

19.  3 

+  5.53 

6 

3.0 

20.05 

—  1.11 

20 

5.9 

19.  6 

—  8.  9 

t 

4.4 

19.30 

—  1.33 

21  dbl. 

5.7 

19.  8 

+  2.  6 

K 

5.4 

19.30 

—  7.18 

23  dbl. 

5.7 

19.12 

+  0.50 

A 

3.3 

19.  0 

—  5.  4 

51 

5.8 

19.44 

—11.  5 

p 

4.V. 

19.28 

+  7.  7 

56  dbl. 

6.2 

19.48 

—  8.54 

V 

5.4 

19.20 

+  0.  6 

57  dbl. 

6.4 

19.48 

—  8.33 

f  dbl. 

5.2 

19.48 

+  8.  9 

66 

5.8 

20.  7 

—  1.22 

0 

5.7 

19.23 

+  1.43 

69 

5.4 

20.23 

—  3.17 

TT  dbl. 

6.0 

19.43 

+11.31 

70 

5.2  red 

20.30 

—  2.58 

p 

5.5 

20.  9 

+14.50 

71 

4.6 

20.32 

—  1.31 

tr  dbl. 

5.7 

19.33 

+  5.  7 

R 

7.V.  red 

19.  1 

+  8.  3 

T 

5.9 

19.58 

+  6.56 

7.0  red 

19.  4 

+23.59 

V 

6.2 

19.40 

+  7.20 

6.3  red 

19.10 

+16.19 

* 

5.5 

19.50 

+11.  6 

6.4  org. 

18.41 

+18.35 

X 

5.8 

19.37 

+11.32 

5.9  org. 

18.51 

+17.58 

* 

6.4 

19.39 

+13.  1 

6.5  org. 

18.55 

+22.39 

w 

6.0 

19.12 

+11.23 

6.5  org. 

18.57 

+  8.12 

5.0  org. 

19.21 

+19.34 

28  A,  dbl. 

6.0 

19.14 

+12.10 

6.2  org. 

19.21 

+19.39 

31  b 

5.8 

19.19 

+11.41 

6.9  org. 

19.24 

+  2.39 

35C 

6.0 

19.23 

+  1.42 

7.1  org. 

19.25 

+  1.46 

27d 

5.9 

19.14 

—  1.7 

7.2  org. 

19.27 

+  4.46 

36  e 

5.6  red 

19.24 

—  3.  3 

6.9  org. 

19.28 

+  5.12 

26/ 

5.7 

19.14 

—  5.39 

7.V.  org. 

20.20 

+  9.40 

14  g 

5.8 

18.57 

—  3.52 

M.  11 

cl. 

18.45 

—  6.27 

NOTES. 

(Alpha)  Altair— Double;  magnitudes  1.7  and  10;  distance,  2' 36";  difficult  on  account  of  the 
difference  of  magnitude.  Struye  gave  for  its  parallax  0".i8l  ±0".094  and  Mr.  Elkin,  of 
Yale  College,  in  1887, 0".l99  ±0".047 ;  and  in  taking  the  average,  0".19,  it  put  the  distance  at 
1,086,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  100  trillions  of  miles,  and  it  takes 
the  light  a  little  over  17  years  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  450). 

(Eta)—  Varies  from  3.5  to  4.7  in  7  days  4  hours  13  minutes  and  53  seconds  regularly;  this 
remarkable  variation  can  be  followed  by  the  naked  eye;  very  interesting  observation. 


AQUILA  AND  ANTINOUS  — SCUTUM  SOBIESII. 


15  h— Double;  magnitudes  5.7  and  7.5;  distance,  35";  very  easy  pair. 
a 


Fig.  75.— Double  Star  15  h. 


Fig.  76.— Double  Star  11. 


57— Double;  magnitudes  6.4  and  7.0;  distance,  35";  the  two  stars  are  sometimes  of  the 
color  and  sometimes  different. 

11— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  9;  distance,  17";  pair  in  rapid  motion. 

23— Double;  magnitudes  5.7  and  10;  distance,  3";  delicate  pair;  the  companion  has  its  bril- 
liancy developed  more  than  in  ordinary  cases  by 
using  stronger  power. 

y  (Gamma) Tarazed— Is  also  a  difficult  double  in  a 
rich  field ;  use  small  power  or  an  opera  glass. 

ft  (Beta)  Alshain—Is  also  double. 

M.  11— Is  a  cluster  with  several  small  double  stars 
in  the  field  (see  between  12  and  6  of  Scutum 
Sobiesii). 

n  (MM)—  Varies  from  the  4th  to  the  6th  magnitude. 
Many  of  the  stars  of  this  constellation  are  re- 
markable for  their  variability,  very  few  cata- 
logues giving  the  same  magnitudes  from  one 
century  to  another.  Fig>  77._ciuster  Messier  11. 


SCUTUM    SOBIESII. 

Scutum  Sobiesii,  or  Sobieski's  Shield,  is  a  constellation  introduced  by  Hevelius  about 
1660,  in  honor  of  the  Polish  hero  Sobieski. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


1 

2  dbl. 

3 

6    - 

9    — 

B 

34113 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.8 
5.2 

5.3 
4.6 
5.5 
5.V. 

4.8 


POSITION 

POSITION 

^—  

*  . 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

r-- 

s 

R.  A.     18 

JO     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     18 

30     DECL. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

h.  m. 

0       1 

18.29 

—  8.20 

* 

6.5  org. 

18.26 

—14.57 

18.36 

—  9.10 

If 

7.0  org. 

18.38 

—  6.39 

18.37 

—  8.24 

M.  16 

el 

18.12 

—13.51 

18.42 

—  4.52 

M.  17 

neb. 

18.14 

—16.14 

18.51 

—  6.   1 

M.  18 

cl 

18.13 

—17.12 

18.41 

—  5.50 

M.  24 

cl. 

18.11 

—18.28 

18.22 

—14.39 

NOTES. 


This  constellation,  forming  part  of  Aquila  and  Antinous,  is  not  recognized  by  many 
authors;  in  K.  A.  Proctor's  new  atlas,  for  instance,  it  does  not  appear.  It  is  very  rich  in 
nebulae,  and  the  Milky  Way  is  very  bright  in  it.  It  is  in  that  region  that  William  Herschel 
counted  331,000  stars  in  five  square  degrees  of  it.  With  an  opera  glass  or  a  telescope  with 
large  field  and  small  power  it  is  beautiful  and  astonishing.  (See  Fig.  78.) 


38 


SCUTUM  SOBIESII. 


SOUTH 


XVIII  h  20 1 


40m  XIX  h 


— The  Milky  Way  in  Scutum  Sobiesii  and  adjoining  Constellations. 


M.  17— The  first  one  below  34,113 
in  our  planisphere  is  the 
famous  nebulae,  horseshoe- 
shaped  ;  it  is  one  of  the  most 
interesting;  it  has  two  cen- 
ters of  concentration,  and 
in  comparing  the  sketches 
made  at  different  periods 
by  different  observers  the 
representations  vary  very 
much;  is  it  a  world  in  for- 
mation ?(Flam.,LesEtoiles, 
pages  237-238.) 

M.  18  and  M.  24— Are  two  clusters 
also  indicated  below  the 
above  in  our  planisphere. 

R.— Varies  from  the  5.2  to  7.3  in  71 
days  and  2  hours. 


Fig.  79.— Nebula  Messier  17. 


OPHIUCHUS. 


OPHIUCHUS. 

Ophiuchus,  or  Serpent  Bearer,  represents  the  god  of  medicine,  ^Esculapius;  as  the 
serpent  is  a  symbol  of  prudence,  so  it  was  one  of  his  attributes.  This  constellation  is  one  of 
the  forty-eight  of  the  ancients,  and  appears  already  during  Eudoxus'  time. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 


1 

8  dbl. 


dbl. 


A  bin. 


dbl. 


bin. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.0 

3.0  yel. 
3.8 

3.1  red 
3.4  yel. 
3.0 

2.7 

3.7 

4.4 

3.4  yel. 

3.8 

4.7 

3.6 

5.0 

5.0 

4.9 

5.2 

5.3 

4.6 

4.7 

4.8 

4.7 


POSITION 

DE8IGNA- 

POSITION 

R.  A. 

880     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

h,  m. 

o      / 

17.29 

+12.39 

53  /,  dbl. 

6.0 

17.29 

+  9.40 

17.38 

+  4.37 

20 

5.0 

16.43 

—10.34 

17.42 

+  2.45 

30 

5.5  org. 

16.55 

—  4.  3 

16.  8 

—  2.23 

39  dbl. 

5.8 

17.11 

—24.  9 

16.12 

-  4.23 

41 

5.1 

17.10 

—  0.19 

16.31 

—10.19 

P.  XVII,  99 

4.9 

17.20 

—  4.59 

17.  3 

—15.34 

58 

5.4 

17.36 

-21.37 

17.15 

—24.53 

66 

5.2 

17.54 

+  4.23 

16.48 

+10.22 

67  dbl. 

4.5 

17.55 

+  2.56 

16.52 

+  9.34 

68  dbl. 

4.7 

17.56 

+  1.19 

16.25 

+  2.15 

70  bin. 

4.4 

17.59 

+  2.32 

17.31 

—  8.  3 

71 

7.0 

18.  2 

+  8.43 

17.52 

—  9.45 

72 

3.6 

18.  2 

+  9.33 

17.14 

—20.58 

74  dbl. 

5.5 

18.15 

+  3.19 

16.18 

—23.10 

R 

8.V.  org. 

17.  1 

—15.56 

17.21 

+  4  15 

s 

8.V. 

16.27 

—16.54 

17.56 

—  8.11 

Temp,  of  1604 

17.23 

—21.23 

16.21 

—  8.  6 

Temp,  of  1848 

16.53 

—12.42 

16.24 

—16.21 

* 

8.0  red 

17.38 

—18.36 

16.20 

—18.11 

* 

6.4  org. 

16.  3 

+  8.52 

16.17 

—19.45 

* 

7.3  org. 

17.52 

+  2.44 

16.25 

—21.12 

* 

6.0  rose 

17.16 

—28.  2 

M.  14 

cl. 

17.31 

—  3.10 

17.  8 

—26.25 

J.  H.  1992 

cl. 

17.56 

+11.  2 

17.19 

—24.  4 

M.  23 

cl. 

17.50 

+18.59 

17.24 

—23.52 

M.  10 

cl. 

16.51 

+  3.55 

17.20 

—29.45 

M.  12 

cl. 

16.41 

+  1.44 

17.13 

+11.  0 

36  A,  bin.  5.5 

44  b  4.7 
55  C  5.5 

45  d  4.6 

€  5.7 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)— Is  also  called  Ras  Alhague;  0  (beta)  Cebalrai. 

T  (1604)— Observed  by  Fabricius  and  Kepler;  it  was  brighter  than  Jupiter  the  day  of  its 
apparition,  the  10th  of  October,  1604— nearly  as  bright  as  Venus;  in  January,  1605, 
it  was  still  brighter  than  Antares;  in  February  it  was  of  the  2d  magnitude;  in  March  of 
the  3d  magnitude,  but  as  this  part  of  the  constellation,  after  that  date,  was  lower  than 
the  horizon  it  could  not  be  followed  any  longer;  six  months  later  it  could  not  be  found 
with  the  naked  eye  and,  unfortunately,  the  telescope  was  not  invented.  Its  position  was 
not  well  denned,  but  must  have  been  between  f  (zi)  and  58;  there  is  no  star  above  the 
9th  magnitude  in  this  region  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  248X 


February 1C05 


April 


May        June     July    Aug.     Sept. 


Fig.  80.— Diagram  showing  the  variations  of  the  Temporary  of  1604. 


40  OPHIUCHUS. 


T  (1848)— Between  ij  (eta)  and  20  another  temporary  was  observed  by  Hind,  the  28th  of  April, 
1848;  it  was  noted  4l/6  magnitude;  it  was  visible  to  the  naked  eye  until  May  llth  and 
then  went  down  to  the  6th  magnitude ;  in  July  it  was  of  the  7th ;  in  June,  1849,  it  was 
seen  of  the  10th;  since  1850  it  is  of  the  llth  magnitude. 

R.,  S.  and  T.— Are  also  variables  but  require  strong  power  to  see  them. 

A.— Double;  magnitudes  4. 5  and  6;  distance,  4".3 ;  as  the  first  varies  from  the  4th  to  the  6th 
magnitude,  the  components  are  sometimes  equal  (such  was  the  case  in  1877).  At  14' 
there  is  a  star  of  the  7th  magnitude,  traveling  in  the  same  direction  (S.  S.  W.)  as  the 
above,  with  a  velocity  of  1".27  per  year;  these  three  stars  form  a  physical  system. 

70— Binary;  magnitudes  4.4  and  6;  distance,  2".9  in  1880;  revolution  about  90  years. 
If  the  parallax,  0".168  is  correct,  the  two  suns  are  revolving  around  each  other  at  an 
average  distance  of  2,680  millions  of  miles  apart,  which  is  a  little  less  than  tlie  distance 
from  Neptune  to  the  sun ;  if  the  star  70  was  the  same  weight  as  our  own  sun,  the  com- 
panion would  revolve  in  a  little  less  than  164  years,  but  as  it  revolves  in  90  years  it  proves 
that  the  star  70  weighs  nearly  three  times  as  much  as  the  sun;  and  as  the  sun  weighs 
324,000  times  as  much  as  the  earth  the  conclusion  is  that  70  of  Ophiuchus  weighs  985,000 
times  as  much  as  the  earth  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  253).  This  remarkable  pair  has, 
besides,  a  proper  motion  of  I'M  per  year,  which  represents  a  minimum  of  350  millions 
of  miles. 


Fig.  81.— Apparent  Orbit  of  Double  Star  70. 

Fig.  82.— Real  Orbit  of  70. 
67— Double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  8;  distance,  55";  in  the  same  field  there  is  a  little  orange  star 

of  the  7th  magnitude ;  very  easy.    Mr.  Burnham  found  a  star  of  the  15th  magnitude  at  a 

distance  of  6".7  in  1889. 

39— Double;  magnitudes  5.7  and  7.5;  distance,  12";  nice  pair;  yellow  and  blue. 
P  (Rho)—  Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  7.5 ;  distance,  3".8 ;  delicate  pair;  yellow  and  blue. 
r  (Taw)— Binary;  magnitudes  5.2  and  6 ;  distance,  1".8  in  1886;  period  of  revolution  about  218 

years. 
A.  (Lambda)— Binary;   magnitudes  3.8  and  <5;  distance, 

1".5  in  1880;  revolution,  233  years. 
2  2173— Binary;    magnitudes  6  and  6;  distance,  0".8; 

revolution,  45  years;  close  pair. 

M.  14— Is  a  cluster  in  a  rich  field;  see  between  y  (gam- 
ma) and  ju.  (raw). 
Between  a.  (alpha)  and  72  there  is  another  rich  cluster, 

very  bright,  almost  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  use 

opera  glass. 
This  constellation  has  several  other  nebulae  more  or  less 

interesting  (see  our  planisphere).     Poczobut  took 

out  some  stars  of  this  constellation  to  form  Taurus 

Poniatowskii  (Poniatowski's  bull).  Fig.  83.— Cluster  Messier  14. 


SERPENS. 


41 


SERPENS. 

This  constellation  is  one  of  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the  ancients  (see  Ophiuchus). 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 

0  dbl. 
Y 
5  bin. 


dbl. 
dbl. 


dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.6 

3.3 

3.8 

3.3 

3.7 

4.8 

3.4 

4.4 

4.9 

4.0  org. 

4.7 

3.3 

4.6 

3.7 

4.7 

4.7 

4.8  red 

5.4 

5.5 


POSITION 

POSITION 

B.  A.     188 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TTTDE. 

B.A.     \i 

WO     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

h.  m. 

O        / 

15.38 

+  6.48 

V 

6.0 

15.42 

+14.30 

15.41 

+15.48 

* 

6.0 

15.52 

+14.46 

15.51 

+16.  3 

X 

5.8 

15.36 

+13.14 

15.29 

+10.57 

* 

6.2 

15.38 

+  2.54 

15.45 

+  4.51 

CO 

5.7 

15.44 

+  2.34 

17.54 

—  3.41 

18.15 

—  2.56 

11  Al 

6.0 

15.27 

—  0.47 

18.50 

+  4.  3 

25  A2 

5.8 

15.40 

—  1.26 

15.36 

+20.  3 

36b 

5.6 

15.45 

—  2.43 

15.43 

+18.31 

60C 

5.9 

18.23 

—  2.  4 

15.41 

+  7.43 

59  d,  dbl. 

5.6 

18.21 

+  0.  7 

15.43 

—  3.  4 

e 

6.1 

18.32 

—  0.25 

17.14 

—12.43 

5  dbl. 

5.2 

15.13 

+  2.14 

17.31 

—15.19 

R 

6.V.  org. 

15.45 

+15.30 

17.35 

—12.49 

s 

8.V.  red 

15.16 

+14.45 

15.57 

+23.  9 

if 

6.7  red 

15.31 

+15.30 

15.46 

+21.21 

M.  5 

cl. 

15.12 

+  2.32 

16.16 

+  1.19 

H.  VIII,  72 

cl. 

18.22 

+  6.29 

15.20 

+15.51 

J.  H.  1929 

cl. 

15.31 

+  6.25 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Unukalhai—Is  a  double  star. 

9  (T/ieta)— Double;  magnitudes  4.4  and  5.0;  distance,  21";  easy  pair. 

S  S 


Fig.  83.-Double  Star  e  Fig.  84.— Double  Star  5 

6  (Delta)— Binary ;  magnitudes  3.4  and  5.0;  distance,  in  1880,  3".5;  the  companion  is  a  variable 

and  the  two  stars  have  often  been  seen  of  same  magnitude;  the  orbital  motion  is  quite 

slow,  only  48CT  in  98  years;  the  entire  revolution 

must  take  about  900  years  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles, 

page  257). 
v  (Nu)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and  9;  distance,  51"; 

easy  pair. 

5— Double;  magnitudes  5.2  and  10;  distance,  10". 
M.  5— Is  a  rich  cluster.    W.  Herschel  counted  200  stars 

in  it,  but  in  the  center  they  are  so  close  together 

that  it  is  nearly  impossible  to  determine  the  num- 
ber (see  near  5). 
H.  VIII,  72— Is   also   a   cluster,  almost  visible  to  the 

naked  eye  (see  with  an  opera  glass  between  9  (theta) 

and  72  of  Ophiuchus).     An  opera  glass  will  also 

show  a  little  cluster  N.  E.  of  a  (alpha).  Fig.  85.— Cluster,  Messier  5. 


ZODIACAL  CONSTELLATIONS. 


PISCES.  35 

This  constellation  appeared  in  the  astronomical  sphere  of  Eudoxns;  some  said  it  was 
called  the  Fishes  because  it  appears  at  the  time  of  the  rainy  days;  others  said  that  they  were 
consecrated  to  Venus  and  Cupid,  who  were  changed  into  fishes  to  escape  the  pursuit  of  the 
Giants ;  for  this  reason  the  Syrians  never  ate  fish,  for  in  so  doing  they  feared  they  might  eat 
one  of  their  gods.  It  is  now  the  first  constellation  of  the  Zodiac. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  bin. 
0 
y 
s 

e 

{  dbl. 


dbl. 


dbl. 


trip. 


dbl. 
i  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.0 
4.5 

3.8 
4.5 
4.3 
4.9 
3.6 
5.4 
4.2 
4.8 
4.7 
5.0 

4.6  yel. 

4.7 
4.4 
5.8 
5.6 
5.5 
5.4 
4.4 
4.8 
4.8 
4.9 
5.8 
6.0 
4.2 


R.  A.     1 

580    DECL. 

uaauumjL' 

TION. 

MAliWl- 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0     / 

1.56 

+  2.11 

5  A 

5.6 

22.58 

3.10 

7b 

5.5 

23.11 

2.38 

31  el 

6.3 

0.42 

6.56 

32  c2 

5.8 

0.57 

7.15 

41  d 

5.3 

1.  7 

6.57 

806 

5.6 

1.25 

14.44 

89  / 

5.2 

23.22 

5.44 

82  g 

5.5 

23.34 

4.59 

6Sh 

6.0 

23.21 

0,36 

65  i,  dbl. 

6.0 

23.36 

1.  7 

67  k 

6.0 

1.24 

5.32 

911 

5.5 

1.35 

4.53 

19 

5.0  org. 

1.47 

2.36 

27 

5.2 

1.39 

8.33 

29 

5.0 

1.31 

11.32 

30 

4.5 

1.29 

18.35 

33 

4.9 

0.56 

31.10 

35  dbl. 

6.0 

1.  5 

29.27 

51  dbl. 

6.0 

1.13 

26.38 

55  dbl. 

5.8 

1.  7 

23.57 

58 

5.4 

1.  5 

20.24 

77  dbl. 

6.0 

0.59 

20.50 

94 

5.3 

1.   1 

20.  6 

100  dbl. 

7.0 

1.  3 

19.   1 

R 

8.V.  red 

23.53 

6.12 

* 

7.0  org. 

POSITION 

B.  A.     It 

!80    DECL. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

23.  3 

+1.28 

23.14 

4.44 

23.56 

8.17 

23.56 

7.49 

0.14 

7.32 

1.  2 

5.  1 

1.12 

2.59 

1.  4 

30.47 

0.51 

28.21 

0.43 

27.  4 

0.49 

26.34 

1.14 

28.  7 

23.40 

+  2.49 

23.53 

—  4.13 

23.56 

—  3.42 

23.56 

—  6.41 

23.59 

—  6.23 

0.  9 

+  8.10 

0.26 

6.17 

0.34 

20.47 

0.41 

11.20 

1.  0 

4.16 

1.21 

18.39 

1.29 

11.57 

1.24 

2.16 

1.10 

25.  8 

NOTES. 


a  (Alpha)— Binary;  magnitudes  4  and  5;  distance,  3".l  in  1880;  very  slow  orbital  motion,  only 

14°  in  100  years;  revolution,  2,570  years. 
£  (Zeto)— Double;  magnitudes  4.9  and  6;  distance,  24";  easy  and  bright  pair. 

s 


Fig.  86.— Double  Star 


Fig.  87.— Double  Star 


PISCES  — ARIES. 


\ft  (Psi)— Double;  magnitudes  5.4  and  5.4;  distance,  30";  very  easy  pair,  in  motion. 

77—  Double;  magnitudes  6  and  7;  distance,  33";  very  easy  pair. 

65  v-Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance,  4".5;  the  components  are  sometimes  of  the  same 

magnitude ;  it  is  a  delicate  pair. 

35— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8 ;  distance,  12";  easy  pair. 
51— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  9;  distance,  28";  small  companion  but  easy  pair;  pearl-white 

and  pale  lilac. 
55— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  9;  distance,  6";  pretty  pair;  orange  and  sapphire— nice  contrast. 

This  constellation  has  also  several  variables,  but  they  require  a  good  instrument. 


ARIES. 


Aries,  or  the  Ram,  is  a  very  old  constellation;  it  was  called  Jupiter  Ammon  and  Chrys- 
ommallus,  or  the  Golden  Fleece;  Eudoxus  had  it  on  his  sphere,  and  in  all  probability  found  it 
already  established  by  the  Egyptians. 

WAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUBE. 

B.  A.     18 

80    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

h.  m. 

0     / 

h.  m. 

o     / 

a  (Hamal)  dbl. 

2.2yel. 

2.  0 

+22.54 

46P 

6.0 

2.50 

+17.32 

/3  dbl. 

3.0 

1.48 

20.13 

<T 

5.8 

2.45 

14.35 

v  dbl. 

3.9 

1.47 

18.42 

61  rl 

5.0 

3.14 

20.43 

« 

4.1 

3.  5 

19.16 

63  r2 

5.5 

3.16 

20.18 

e  bin. 

4.8 

2.52 

20.52 

l  dbl. 

6.0 

1.44 

21.41 

£ 

4.9 

3.  8 

20.35 

7 

6.5 

1.49 

22.59 

17 

5.5 

2.  6 

20.39 

14  trip. 

5.4 

2.  2 

25.23 

0 

5.7 

2.11 

19.20 

30  dbl. 

6.0 

2.30 

24.  7 

t 

5.8 

1.51 

17.14 

33  dbl. 

5.8 

2.34 

26.32 

K 

5.7 

2.  0 

22.  4 

35  dbl. 

5.0 

2.36 

27.13 

A  dbl. 

5.3 

1.51 

23.   1 

38 

5.0 

2.38 

11.56 

/*  dbl. 

5.8 

2.36 

19.30 

39 

4.9 

2.41 

28.44 

V 

6.0 

2.32 

21.26 

41  quad. 

3.8 

2.43 

26.46 

* 

5.5 

2.18 

10.  4 

P.  Ill,  32 

5.2 

3.13 

28.32 

0 

6.0 

2.38 

14.48 

R 

8.V.  org. 

2.  9 

24.30 

TT  trip. 

5.6 

2.42 

16.57 

T 

8.V.  yel. 

2.42 

17.  1 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  —Also  called  Hamal,  is  a  double  star,    ft  (Beta)  Sheratan  is  also  double. 

y  (Gamma)  Mesartim— Double ;  magnitudes  4.2  and  4.5;  distance,  8".9;  very  easy  pair;  it  is  the 

first  star  noted  as  double.  In  1664  Hooke,contemporary  of  Newton,in  looking  at  the  comet 

of  that  year  discovered  it  and 

said:    "I  tooH  notice  that  it 

consisted  of  two  small  stars 

very  near  together;  a  like  in- 
stance to  which  I  have  not  else 

met  with  in  all  the  heaven." 

Since  that  day  many  double 

stars  have  been  discovered, 

and  every  day  adds  to  the  list, 
s 


Fig.  88.— Double  Star  y 


Fig.  89.— Triple  Star  14. 


44 


ARIES -TAURUS. 


14—Triple;  magnitudes  5.4-10  and  9;  distances,  82"  and  106";  white,  blue  and  lilac. 

30— Double;  magnitudes  6.0  and  7.0;  distance,  38";  very  easy  pair;  this  region  is  rich  in 

double  stars. 

A  (Lambda)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.3  and  8;  distance,  38";  very  easy  pair. 
TT  (Pi)— Triple;  magnitudes  5.6-8.5  and  11;  distances,  3"  and  25";  somewhat  difficult. 
33— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and 9 ;  distance,  28". 
e  (Epsiton)— Binary;  magnitudes  5  and  6;  distance,  1".3  in  1880;  very  close  pair ;  in  1800  the  two 

stars  were  at  one-tenth  of  a  second  apart  and  most  likely  eclipsed. 

This  constellation  was,  2,000  years  ago,  the  first  one  of  the  Zodiac. 

The  stars  33, 35,  39  and  41  were  formed  in  a  little  constellation  by  Bartschius,  son-in-law 
of  Kepler,  and  called  Musca— the  Fly— on  his  Celestial  Globe,  in  1623. 


TAURUS.    p$ 

Taurus,  or  the  Bull,  is  one  of  the  old  Egyptian  constellations;  it  represented  the  bull 
Apis;  the  Greeks  identify  it  with  the  bull  which  carried  off  Europa.  It  was  already  men- 
tioned by  Homer  and  Hesiod. 

The  Pleiades  and  the  Hyades  are  noted  in  Job  (xxxviii,  31) ;  also  by  Homer  and  Hesiod. 
Aldebaran  is  the  bull's  eye,  and  the  Hebrews  called  it  "Aleph  "  (God's  Eye). 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


(Aldebaran) 

trip.  1.4  red 

ft  dbl.  2.0 

•y  dbl.  4.1 

81  '  4.0 

82  5.9 
e  3.7 
C  3.5 


(Ple|ades)   3.0 
i  3.9 


02 


<r2 
rdbl. 


<J»dbl. 
Xdbl. 


37  Al 

39  A2  dbl. 

79  b 

90  d 

93  C2 

88  d  dbl. 

30  e  dbl. 


4.2 

5.0 

4.8 

6.5 

3.V. 

4.4 

3.9 

3.5 

3.4 

5.8 

5.6 

5.4 

5.4 

4.5 

4.8 

6.0 

5.5 

5.7 

5.6 

5.8 

6.2 

4.9 
6.4 
5.8 
4.4 
5.5 
4.6 
5.0 
4.7 


POSITION 

DESIGN  A- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

B.  A.     18* 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.  A.     18* 

!0    DECL. 

h.  m. 

0     f 

h.  m. 

O      / 

0 

6.2 

3.  6 

+6.13 

4.29 

+16.16 

57  Jl 

6.0 

4.13 

13.45 

5.19 

28.30 

97  i 

5.7 

4.44 

18.38 

4.13 

15.20 

98  k 

6.0 

4.51 

24.52 

4.16 

17.15 

1061 

5.8 

5.  1 

20.16 

4.17 

17.10 

104m 

5.5 

5.  0 

18.29 

4.22 

18.55 

109  n 

5.9 

5.12 

21.57 

5.30 

21.  5 

1140 

6.0 

5.20 

21.50 

3.40 

23.44 

44p 

6.2 

4.  3 

26.10 

4.22 

15.42 

66r 

5.4 

4.17 

9.11 

4.22 

15.36 

48 

5.5 

3.24 

10.56 

4.57 

21.25 

6t 

6.0 

3.26 

8.58 

4.18 

22.  1 

29  U 

5.7 

3.39 

5.40 

4.18 

21.55 

10 

4.5 

3.31 

0.02 

3.54 

12.  9 

40 

5.4 

3.57 

5.  06 

4.  9 

8.35 

41 

5.4 

3.59 

27.16 

3.57 

5.39 

47 

5.2 

4.  7 

8.58 

3.21 

9.19 

48 

6.V. 

4.  9 

15.  G 

3.18 

8.36 

68 

5.0 

4.18 

17.40 

4.20 

14.26 

105 

6.0 

5.   1 

21.32 

4.27 

14.35 

119 

5.6  red 

5.25 

18.30 

4.32 

15.32 

121 

5.8 

5.28 

23.58 

4.32 

15.40 

125 

6.0  ' 

5.32 

25.50 

4.35 

22.43 

136- 

5.9  < 

5.34 

16.29 

4.19 

22.32 

132 

5.7 

5.51 

24.32 

4.20 

22.43 

133  trip. 

5.5 

5.41 

13.52 

4.13 

27.  4 

134 

5.4 

5.42 

12.38 

4.15 

25.20 

136 

5.6 

5.45 

27.35 

4.  0 

28.40 

139 

5.7 

5.50 

25.56 

4.  2 

19.17 

P.  VI,  99 

4.9 

4.23 

20.56 

4.10 

20.17 

P.  IV,  246 

5.3 

4.50 

16.58 

3.58 

21.45 

2  730  dbl. 

6.0 

5.25 

17.  0 

3.58 

21.39 

R 

8.V.  org. 

4.22 

9.54 

4.22 

12.46 

U 

8.V. 

4.15 

19.32 

4.31 

12.16 

* 

7.V. 

3.47 

7.25 

4.33 

11.57 

* 

7.7  red 

5.39 

20.38 

4.29 

9.54 

* 

8.5  red 

5.38 

24.22 

3.42 

10.46 

* 

6.5  org. 

4.15 

20.32 

3.24 

12.32 

M.I 

neb. 

5.27 

21.56 

TAURU  S  —  PLEIADES. 


45 


NOTES. 


This  constellation  was  the  first  one  of  the  Zodia 
crossing  the  ecliptic  near  Aldebaran,  3,000  years  ago,  at 
Pie  lades—  This  beautiful  cluster  contains  over  1,000  stars 
it  was  named  from  the  daughters  of  Atlas  and  th 
show  the  14  principal  stars,  as  seen  with  an  open 
family.   Alcyone  is  >j  (eta)  of  Taurus.   The  position 
very  difficult  to  be  identified  from  the  catalogues  £ 
and  some  changes  have  been  noted  from  the 
first  observations  taken  ovei\2,000  years  ago  and 
at  the  present  time  ;  most  of  them  are  variables 
and  only  a  few  years  of  observations  indicate 
some  difference  in  their  magnitude. 

c  during  the  Egyptian  period,  the  sun 
the  vernal  equinox. 
,  six  or  seven  visible  to  the  naked  eye; 
e  nymph  Pleione.    In  our  diagram  we 
i  glass;   also,  the  names  of  the  entire 
and  the  magnitudes  of  these  stars  are 
md  maps  published  at  different  times, 
IT 

• 

Asterope..             ^ 

MaVa  m 
,'m^       Celaeno 

»'*'           x^             * 

LpUbna                       s''' 

0                                    Electre'jj 

NAMES. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

POSITION 
H.  A.         1880          DECL. 

Celaeno  

6.5 
4.5 
5.8 
5.0 
6.5  1 
7.0* 
5.5 
3.0 
4.6 
6.3 

h.m.  s.                 °    ' 
3.37.40                20.54,7 
3.37.45                23.44,1 
3.38.  4                24.  5.4 
3.38.41                23.59,8 

3.38.45                24.10,7 

3.39.12                23.34,4 
3.40.21                23.44,0 
3.42.  2                23.41,2 
3.42.  3                23.46,2 

Electra  
Taygete  

*AtI«              A"lcy0ne  \                      ..-•* 

^Merope 
•  26  Fl. 

• 

Maia  
Asteropei  ) 
Asterope2  )  '  ' 
Merope 

Alcyone  
Atlas  
Pleione 

Fig.  90.— The  14  principal  Pleiades. 

As  our  object  is  to  describe  the  heavens  as  they  are  now,  we  have  given  the  position, 
the  names  and  the  magnitude  of  the  Pleiades  for  the  year  1880;  the  amateurs  who  wish  to  go 
deeper  with  the  study  of  this  interesting  group  can  refer  to  M.  Flammarion's  book,  "  Les 
Etoiles,"  pages  289  to  306. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  Prosper  Henry,  after  taking  the  photograph  of  the  Pleiattesthe  16ft 
of  December,  1885,  discovered  a  bright  nebula  starting  from  Mala,  going  a  little  west,  then 
turning  abruptly  toward  the  north  and  measuring  about  3  minutes ;  tbey  pliotograplied  the 
same  region  again  on  the  16th  of  November,  the  8th  and  9th  of  December,  1885,  and  the  8th  of 
January,  1886,  and  the  nebula  was  visible  on  the  plates  each  time;  still,  in  looking  through  all 
the  telescopes  of  the  Paris  Observatory  they  could  not  see  it;  it  was  identified  later  at  Pulkova 
Observatory  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1886;  page  45). 

In  1859,  Mr.  Tempel,  of  Marseilles,  discovered  at  Venice,  the  23d  of  October,  1859,  a  nebula 
starting  from  Merope,  which  he  thought  was  a  comet ;  he  saw  it  again  at  Marseilles  several 
times  in  1860.  Mr.  Julius  Schmidt,  of  Athens,  never  noticed  it  from  1844  until  the  5th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1861 ;  the  atmosphere  that  night  was  extraordinarily  pure.  Mr.  Chacornac  observed  it 
at  Paris  the  16th  of  September,  1862,  and  Mr.  Webb  in  1863  and  1865;  it  was  then  very  faint  and 
some  experienced  observers,  such  as  Burnham,  never  saw  it;  in  November,  1890,  Mr.  Barnard 
also  saw  it,  and  since  then  it  has  been  photographed  several  times.  This  nebula  is  very  likely 
variable. 

The  Henry  Brothers  took  another  photograph  of  the  same  region  the  16th  of  November, 
1887  (Fig.  90),  showing  several  new  nebulae,  each  one  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  principal 
stars  and  connected  by  faint  nebulosities,  one  of  them  especially  very  straight,  measuring  37 
minutes  and  passing  through  seven  small  stars  nearly  parallel  to  the  direction  of  Pleione  to 
Alcyone,  starting  from  a  star  about  half  way  between  Alcyone  and  Maia  and  ending  a  little 
N.  W.  of  Pleione.  This  photograph  was  taken  again  the  14th  of  December,  1887,  and  made 
over  twice,  showing  always  the  same  details,  therefore  they  must  really  exist.  The  Pleiades 
show  no  sign  of  a  parallax,  but  supposing  that  they  are  as  near  to  us  as  61  Cygni  or  Aldeb- 
aran and  offer  a  parallax  of  0".5,  the  line  above  described  would  represent  410  billions  of 
miles  and  in  the  same  proportion  would  be  650  millions  of  miles  in  width.  These  figures 
are  certainly  the  minima  (1888,  Revue  d'Ast.,  pages  401  and  404). 


TAURUS  —  PLEIADES. 


NORTH 


Aaterope 


Fig.  91.— The  Pleiades,  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Messrs.  Paul  and  Prosper  Henry,  in  1887. 

The  distance  between  Alcyone  and  Electra  is  37  minutes,  the  distance  from  Merope  to 
Maia  is  25  minutes;  the  full  moon  measures  only  31  minutes,  and  in  looking  at  that  beautiful 
cluster  the  impression  is  that  the  moon  would  N 

cover  the  entire  group;  still  it  could  be  inserted 
between  Taygete  and  Merope  without  touching 
these  stars.  When  the  moon  passes  in  front  of 
the  Pleiades  and  eclipses  one  after  the  other,  it  is 
wonderful  and  one  can  hardly  believe  his  own  eyes. 

From  observations  by  Bradley  in  1755,  by 
Bessel  in  1825  and  1840,  by  Wolf  in  1874,  all  the 
Pleiades  have  a  proper  motion  a  little  east  of  the 
south;  as  our  system  goes  in  that  direction  and  the 
effect  may  be  due  to  our  own  motion,  we  repro- 
duce M.  Flammarion's  diagram  representing  this 
remarkable  illustration;  the  ends  of  the  arrows 
show  the  position  of  each  of  the  stars  10,000  years 


PleYone  /Electre 

Alcyone 


from  now,  if  the  movement  is  regular.  Fig.  92.— Proper  motion  of  the  Pleiades. 


TAURUS. 


47 


Hyades—Are  another  cluster,  also  visible  to  the  naked  eye ;  very  nice  with  an  opera  glass ; 
from  observations  made  for  30  stars  of  this  cluster  it  is  evident  that  they  all  go  in  the 
same  direction,  S.  E.  S.  toward  Aldebaran,  which  has  itself  a  motion  in  a  direction 
inclined  from  45°  to  50°  with  the  general  motion  of  the  Hyades. 

a  (Alpha)  Aldebaran— Triple;  magnitudes  1.4-14  and  11;  distance,  30".4  and  115".  The  faint, 
star  is  a  difficult  object  on  account  of  the  brilliancy  of  Aldebaran  and  requires  good 
power.  Mr.  Burnham  found  the  nearest  companion  at  Chicago  in  1877,  distance,  30".4, 
and  in  1888,  with  the  36-inch  telescope  of  Mt.  Hamilton,  discovered  that  the  old  com- 
panion was  also  double,  distance  2".  Aldebaran  and  Burnham  companion  have  the 
same  proper  motion,  0".188  in  the  direction  of  164°.4,  and  the  old  companion  has  an 
annual  motion  of  0".095  in  the  direction  of  about  109°.6.  Fig.  93,  made  from  a  diagram 
by  Mr.  Burnham,  shows  the  proper  motion  of  Aldebaran  and  its  companions. 

Struve  gave  for  the  parallax  of  this  star  in  1854 0".516±0".057 

Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  in  1887-8,  gave 0".116±0".029 

Hall,  of  Washington,  in  1888 0".102±0".Q30 

In  taking  the  average  of  the  three  or  0".24  it  would  represent  874,000  times  the  distance 
of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  80  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  more 
than  13  years  and  9  months  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  pages  445  and  450).  It  is  one  of  the 
nearest  stars  to  us. 

/3  (Beta)  Nath—Is  a  double  star. 
A  (Lambda)—  Varies  regularly  from  the  3.4  to  the  4.2 
magnitude  in  the  short  period  of  3  days  22  hours 
52  minutes  and  24  seconds ;  it  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  variables;  easily  followed  with  the 
naked  eye. 

0  (Theta)— The  stars  01  and  92  are  visible  to  the 
naked  eye  at  5'  37"  and  have  kept  the  same  posi- 
tion in  regard  to  each  other  since  Flamsteed's 
observations  in  1696;  magnitudes  4.2  and  4.5  (see 
with  an  opera  glass). 
a  (Sigma)— Double ;  magnitudes  5.4  and  5.4;  distance, 

7'  10";  use  an  opera  glass. 

*  (Kappa)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.8  and  6.5;  dist- 
ance, 5'  40";  between  «i  and  «2  there  is  a  very 
close  pair;  nice  field. 
T  (Tau)— Double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  8;  distance, 

62";  very  easy  pair. 

88(1— Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and  9;  distance,  68"; 
very  easy  with  small  instrument. 

<t>  (Phi)  —  Double ;   magnitudes    5.5 
and  8.5;  distance,  56";  very  easy 
with  small  instrument. 
X  (CM)  —  Double ;    magnitudes  5.7 
and  8;  distance,  19";   elegant 
pair. 
2  730— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  7; 

distance,  9".8;  very  easy  pair. 
Ill— Double;   magnitudes  6  and  9; 
distance,  75" ;  it  is  near  the  above 
in  the  direction  of  Aldebaran. 
-Diagram  showing  the  proper  motion 
Aldebaran  and  its  companions. 

M.  1— Is  the  famous  "Crab  Nebula,"  see  near  £  (zeta) ;  discovered  by  Messier,  and  the  first  of 
his  catalogue;  he  saw  it  by  accident  in  looking  at  the  comet  of  1758;  there  are  several 
small  stars  in  it,  but  they  do  not  belong  to  the  nebula;  a  large  telescope  is  necessary  to 
show  all  the  marvels  of  this  beautiful  object,  which  is  no  less  than  3*4  minutes  wide 
by  5l/2  minutes  long.  (Fig.  95.) 


48 


TAUEUS- GEMINI. 


This  constellation  contains  sev- 
eral variables  too  small  for  common 
telescopes — we  only  note: 
V.— Varies  from  the  8.6  to  12.8  magni- 
tude in  170  days. 

39  A2— East  of  A  is  a  triple  of  magni- 
tudes 6.4-9  and  9;  distances,  26" 
and  37";  the  third  star  is  coming 
nearer  to  the  main  star. 
S 


Fig.  94. -Triple  Star  39  A2 


Fig.  95.— Nebula  Messier  l. 

As  seen  in  Lord  Rosse's  telescope. 


GEMINI. 


Gemini,  or  the  Twins,  according  to  Greek  mythology,  are  Castor  and  Pollux,  or  Apollo 
and  Hercules,  all  sons  of  Jupiter,  thence  the  name  "Dioscures  "  (Jupiter's  Sons),  sometimes 
given  to  them.  Castor  having  been  killed  during  the  siege  of  Sparta,  Pollux  asked  Jupiter  to 
give  half  of  his  life  to  his  brother  so  that  they  could  live  alternatively  together.  The  king  of 
the  gods,  to  immortalize  such  proof  of  fraternal  love,  put  them  both  among  the  constellations. 
According  to  others  they  are  the  inseparable  gods  Horus  and  Harpocrates  of  the  Egyptians. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


a  (Castor)  bin.  23 
(3  (Pollux)  qdl.  1.9  org. 


ytrip. 
Sdbl. 
edbl. 


«  dbl. 
A  dbl. 
Mdbl. 


o  trip. 
n  trip. 
p 

<T 

T 
V 


2.7 
3.8 

3.3  yel. 
4.V. 
3.V. 
4.V. 
4.0 

3.8 

4.3 

3.0  red 

4.6 

3.9 

5.5 

5.7 

4.6 

4.5  org. 

4.8 

4.4  red 
5.4 

5.3 
5.7 
5.8 


B.  A.     If 

80     DECL. 

IMHMBMA* 

TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

7.27 

+32.  9 

57  A 

5.8 

7.38 

28.19 

64  bl 

5.5 

6.31 

16.30 

65?>2 

5.0 

7.13 

22.12 

76  c 

6.3 

6.36 

25.15 

36  d 

6.0 

6.57 

20.45 

38  e  bin. 

5.4 

6.  8 

22.32 

74  / 

6.0 

6.45 

34.  6 

810 

5.8 

7.18 

28.  3 

1  (Propus) 

5.0 

7.37 

24.42 

15  dbl. 

6.0 

7.11 

16.45 

20  dbl. 

6.0 

6.16 

22.35 

26 

5.5 

6.22 

20.17 

30 

5.7 

6.38 

13.  1 

61  dbl. 

6.V. 

7.31 

34.52 

70  trip. 

6.3 

7.40 

33.44 

85 

6.0 

7.21 

32.  1 

2  1083  dbl. 

8.0 

7.36 
7.  3 
7.28 

29.11 
30.27 
27.10 

B 

S 
T 

* 

7.V.  org. 
8.V.  org. 
8.V.  org. 
7.2  red 

7.46 

27.  6 

* 

7.4  red 

7.56 

28.  8 

# 

6.7  red 

8.  6 

30.  2 

M.35 

cl. 

6.55 

24  23 

H.  IV,  45 

neb. 

B.  A.     H 

J80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

7.16 

+25  17 

7.22 

28.23 

7.22 

28.11 

7.37 

26.  5 

6.41 

21.54 

6.48 

13.20 

7.32 

17.57 

7.39 

18.49 

5.57 

23.17 

6.21 

20.52 

6.25 

17.52 

6.35 

17.46 

6.37 

13.21 

7.20 

20.30 

7.31 

35.19 

7.48 

20.13 

7.18 

20.46 

7.  0 

22.53 

7.36 

23.44 

7.42 

24.  2 

7.  8 

22.11 

6.  3 

26.  2 

6.  5 

22.56 

6.   1 

24.21 

7.22 

21.  9 

GEMINI. 


NOTES, 
a  (Alpha)  Castor— Binary;   magnitudes  2.5 and  3.0;  distance,  in  1880,  5".6;  one  of  the  finest 

double  stars;   the  orbital  motion  takes  nearly  1,000  years;   at  73"  distance  from  Castor 

there  is  a  small  star  of  the  S 

9'/£th    magnitude   which 

seems  to  form    part  of   a 

trinary  system.     Castor   is 

moving  at  the  rate  of   28 

miles   per   second    in   an 

opposite  direction  from  us, 

or  890  millions  of  miles  per 

year.     Johnson,  in  1854-5, 

found  a  parallax  of  0//.198± 

0".l40 ;  which  is  too  uncertain 

to  fix  the  distance  of  this 

beautiful  pair  from  us. 
ft  (Beta)  Pollux— Is  a  quadruple 

star,  but  requires  good  pow- 
er, the  companions  being 

from  the   10th  to  the  12th 

magnitude.  This  star  is  com- 
ing toward  us  with  a  veloci- 
ty still  greater  than  the  one 

of  Castor,  about  40  miles  per 

second,  and  the  distance  be- 
tween the  "two  brothers" 

must  be  6  trillions  250  bill-  FiS-  96.-Castor  and  its  small  companion. 

ions  of  miles,  farther  apart  now  than  at  the  time  of  Homer  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  319). 

Mr.  Elkin,  in  1887-8,  found  for  its  parallax  0".068±0".047,  but  the  uncertainty  is  too  great 

to  determine  its  distance  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  448). 
y  (Gamma)  Althena—Is  a  triple  star. 
£  (Zeta)—  Varies  from  the  3.7  to  the  4.5  magnitude  in  a  period  of  10  days  3  hours  and  47 

minutes ;  it  has  a  companion  of  the  8th  magnitude  at  a  distance  of  90". 
17  (Eta)—  Varies  from  the  3.2  to  the  4.2  magnitude  in  a  period  of  230  days.    It  is  a  close  double, 

discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham  in  1881 ;  distance,  I". 

8  (Delta)  Wesat— Double ;  magnitudes  3.8  and  8;  distance,  7";  supposed  to  be  binary, 
e  (Epsilori)  Mebsuta—H'ds  a  distant  companion,  ill". 
K  (Kappa)— Double;  magnitudes  3.8  and  9;   distance,  6";   orange  and  azure ;   the  companion 

varies  from  the  8th  to  the  10th  magnitude.    Sir  John  Herschel  thought  that  it  was  a 

planet  of  the  main  star  and  was  receiving  its  light  from  it  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  320). 
38  e— Double ;  magnitudes  5.4  and  8 ;  distance,  6" ;  the  two  stars  are  variables ;  the  first  one  is  gold- 
yellow,  and  the  companion  changes 

color  from  green  to  blue  and  from 

purple  to  red. 

20— Double;   magnitudes  6   and   7;   dis- 
tance, 20";  these  two  stars  are  also 

variables. 
Gl— Double;  magnitudes 6 and  9;  distance, 

60". 
M.  35— Near  Propus  is  the  famous  cluster 

of  Gemini,  visible  to  the  naked  eye, 

composed  of  hundreds  of  stars  from 

the  llth  to  the  12th  magnitudes.    A 

field  of  19'  in  diameter  is  entirely 

filled  up  with  stars ;  splendid  object. 
H.  IV,  45— Is  a  planetary  nebula  2°  S.  E. 

of  S  (delta) ;  its  spectrum  shows  the 

rays  of  hydrogen  and  nitrogen ;  it  is 

absolutely  gaseous.    In  the  center 

there  is  a  star  of  the  9th  magnitude. 

This    constellation    contains    also 

several    variables    too    small    for 

common    telescopes.  Fig.  97.— Cluster  Messier  35. 


CANCER. 


CANCER.    8*18 

Cancer,  or  the  Crab,  was  known  by  Eudoxus,  Hipparchus  and  Ptolemy,  and  its  Greek 
name,  "  Karkinos,"  has  the  same  meaning  as  the  English  name  Crab. 

It  is  claimed  by  some  that  the  name  of  this  constellation  has  been  given  it  because  the 
sun  passed  through  it  at  the  solstice  of  summer  and  then  started  to  retrograde ;  but  it  was 
known  more  than  2,000  years  ago,  and  this  explanation  is  not  applicable.  According  to 
others,  it  is  the  crab  killed  by  Hercules  when  he  was  fighting  against  the  Hydra. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


a 

4.2 

|3 

3.7 

y 

4.4 

S 

4.3 

e  (Prsesepe) 

cl. 

£  trin. 

4.8 

•n 

5.6 

0dbl. 

5.5 

tdbl. 

4.5 

K 

5.0 

A. 

5.8 

9/x1 

6.3 

10  /*2 

5.9 

V 

5.5 

t 

5.0 

62  oi 

5.5 

63  o2 

6.0 

82  7T 

5.8  red 

55  pi 

6.0 

58  P2 

5.8 

51<rl 

6.0 

59  er2  dbl. 

5.8 

64<r3 

5.0 

2  1298  dbl. 

6.5 

72  T 

6.2 

30  vi  dbl. 

6.0 

32  v2 

5.9 

22  <*>!  dbl. 

6.0 

23  <f>2  dbl. 

6.2 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

K.A.    18 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

8.52 

+12.19 

18  X 

5.6 

8.10 

9.33 

14  ty 

6.0 

8.36 

21.54 

2  col 

6.0 

8.38 

18.35 

4  u>2 

6.3 

8.33 

19.58 

8.  5 

18.  1 

45  Ai 

5.5 

8.26 

20.51 

50  A2 

•     5.5 

8.25 

18.31 

49  b 

6.0 

8.39 

29.12 

36  c 

6.0 

9.  1 

11.  9 

20  dl 

6.0 

8.13 

24.24 

25  d2 

6.3 

7.59 

22.59 

8 

6.2 

8.  1 

21.56 

24  dbl. 

6.7 

8.56 

24.56 

57  dbl. 

6.0 

9.  2 

22.33 

60 

5.8  org. 

8.50 

15.47 

83 

6.0 

8.51 

16.  2 

P.  VIII,  42 

6.3 

9.  8 

15.27 

R 

7.V.  org. 

8.45 

28.49 

S 

8.V. 

8.48 

28.25 

T 

8.V.  red 

8.46 

32.58 

V 

7.V.  org. 

8.52 

33.23 

2  1311  dbl. 

6.7 

8.54 

32.49 

2  1177  dbl. 

6.5 

8.54 

32.46 

* 

6.5  red 

8.59 

30.  9 

* 

6.5  red 

8.24 

24.29 

H.  II,  80 

neb. 

8.22 

24.33 

H.  II,  48 

neb. 

8.19 

28.18 

M.  67 

cl. 

8.20 

27.20 

B.  A.     13SO     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 


NOTES. 

Prcesepe— Is  a  beautiful  cluster,  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  composed  of  stars  from  6l/£  to  the 
10th  magnitude;  very  easy  with  opera  glass  and  instruments  of  small  power;  it  is  also 
called  the  "  Bee  Hive;"  eight  minutes  east  of  it  will  be  seen  two  small  nebulae.  William 
Herschel,  in  1784,  saw  another  one  there,  but  it  was  never  seen  afterward;  it  was  per- 
haps a  comet  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  333).  (See  Fig.  98.) 

Scale— 10"  =  l  inch. 
S 


Fig.  98.— The  Pnesepe,  or  Bee  Hive 


Fig.  99.— Trinary  £in 


CANCER  — LEO. 


<.  (Im.a)  -Double;    magnitudes,  4.5  and  7;  distance,  30";  pale  orange  and  blue;  nice  contrast. 
£  (Zeta)—  Trinary;  magnitudes  5.5-6.2  and  6.6;  distance,  0".8 and  5".3;  the  first  two  revolve 

around  each  other  in  60  years ;   the  third  revolves  around  the  two  others  in  600  years ; 

it  is  the  most  important  system  of  the  kind.    (Fig.  99.) 
02  (Phi)— Double;    magnitudes  6.0  and  6.5;  distance,  4".8;  very  brilliant  pair;  sometimes  the 

two  stars  seem  to  be  of  equal  magnitude ;  <£>  (see  4>)  is  also  double ;  nice  field. 
6  (Theta)— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  9:  distance  one  minute  exactly. 
57— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  7 ;  distance,  l".4;  close  pair. 
2  1298— Double;  magnitudes  6,5  and  9;  distance,  4".8; 

very  nice  pair;  white  and  blue. 
2  3121— Binary;  magnitudes  7.2  and  7.5;  distance,  0".7; 

revolution  39  years;   very  close  pair;    between  /3 

(beta)  and  8. 
M.  67— Is  a  rich  cluster,  almost  visible  to  the  naked  eye, 

composed  of  several  hundreds  of  stars  of  the  10th 

and  llth  magnitudes ;  see  with  opera  glass  near  60. 

There  are  several  variables  in  this  constellation; 
the  principal  ones  are : 
R.— Varies  from  6.3  to  13th  magnitude  in  359  days  (see 

north  of  ft  (beta).) 
S.— Varies  from  8th  to  lO^th  magnitude  in  9  days  11  hours 

37  minutes  (see  between  S  (delta)  and  y  (gamma).) 
T.— Varies  from  8.3  to  9.9  magnitude  in  455  days  (see 

about  half  way  between  8  (delta)  and  f  (zi).)  Fig.  100.— Cluster  Messier  67. 


LEO. 


Leo,  or  the  Lion,  is,  according  to  Greek 
in  the  forest  of  Nemea,  and  placed  among 
the  exploit  of  his  son. 


DE8IGNA-  MAGNI- 

TION.  TUDE. 


a  dbl.  1.9 

ft  dbl.  2.1 

Y  bin.  2.2  yel. 

6  trip.  2.8 

e  3.0 

£  3.3 

TI  3.8 

e  3.4 

t  bin.  4.0 

K  dbl.  4.8 

A  4.6  red 

/x  dbl.  4.2 

v  5.1 

£  5.5 

o  dbl.  3.9 

TT  5.2  red 

P  4.0 

a-  dbl.  4.2 

r  dbl.  5.2 

v  dbl.  4.4 

<J>  dbl.  4.3 

X  4.7 

t  dbl.  5.5 

a>  bin.  5.9 

31  A  5.0  org. 

60  h  4.9  red 

59  c  5.0 

58  d  5.3 

87  e  5.2  red 

15  /  r,.7 


mythology,  the  famous  lion  killed  by  Hercules 
the  constellations  by  Jupiter  to  commemorate 


POSITION 

B.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION . 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

10.  2 

+12.33 

22flf 

5.8 

11.43 

15.15 

6  h  dbl. 

5.7 

10.13 

20.27 

52  k 

6.0 

11.  8 

21.11 

531 

5.7 

9.39 

24.20 

51m 

6.0 

10.10 

24.  1 

73  n 

5.8 

10.   1 

17.21 

95o 

6.0 

11.  8 

16.  5 

pi 

5.9 

11.18 

11.12 

61  pa 

5.4 

9.18 

26.42 

62  p3 

6.2 

9.25 

23.31 

65  p* 

5.8 

9.46 

26.34 

69  p5 

5.6 

9.52 

13.  1 

49  dbl. 

6.0 

9.26 

11.51 

54  dbl. 

4.5 

9.35 

10.26 

71 

7.4 

9.54 

8.37 

72 

5.0  org. 

10.26 

9.55 

75 

6.0  org. 

11.15 

6.41 

92 

5.8 

11.22 

+  3.31 

93  dbl. 

4.5 

11.31 

—  0.10 

P.  IX,  230 

6.0 

11.11 

—  3.  0 

83  dbl. 

7.0 

10.59 

+  7.59 

88  dbl. 

6.0 

9.37 

14.35 

90  trip. 

6.0 

9.22 

9.36 

R 

6.V.  org. 

* 

6.5 

10.  2 

10.36 

M.65 

neb. 

10.56 

20.49 

M.  66 

neb. 

10.66 

<;.4r> 

H.  Ill,  76 

neb. 

10.54 

+  4.16 

H.  I,  56-57 

neb. 

11.24 

—  2.21 

H.  I,  17-18 

neb. 

9.37 

+30.32 

M.  95 

neb. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

o     r 

9.45 

+24.59 

9.26 

10.16 

10.40 

14.49 

10.43 

11.11 

10.40 

19.31 

11.10 

13.58 

11.50 

+16.19 

10.48 

—  1.29 

10.56 

—  1.50 

10.57 

+  0.39 

11.   1 

2.37 

11.  8 

0.36 

10.29 

9.17 

10.49 

25.25 

11.12 

18.32 

11.  9 

23.45 

11.11 

2.40 

11.35 

22.   1 

11.42 

20.54 

10.58 

0.37 

11.21 

3.40 

11.26 

15.  3 

11.28 

17.28 

9.41 

11.59 

11.29 

11.35 

11.13 

13.45 

11.14 

13.38 

11.12 

15.28 

9.25 

22.  2 

10.41 

13.13 

10.38 

+12.19 

LEO. 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Regulus— W&s  observed  and  its  position  determined  2,120  years  B.  C.,  by  Ihe 
Babylonian  astronomers ;  it  was  then  in  longitude  92°  30' ;  it  is  now  in  longitude  148°  9', 
and  it  is  by  the  change  of  longitude  that  Hipparclms  discovered  the  precession  of  the 
equinoxes,  127  years  B.  C. ;  it  was  then  in  longitude  119°  5tf.  Regulus  is  a  double; 
magnitudes  1.9 and  8;  distance,  2' 57";  the  companion  is  also  double;  distance,  3".  It  lias  a 
motion  of  27"  west  in  100  years ;  Mr.  Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  in  1887-88,  obtained  a  parallax 

quite  uncertain  =0".093±0".048;   if 

S  it  was  equal  to  only  one-tenth  of 

a  second  the  distance  between  the 
two  stars  would  be  163  billions  45)0 
millions  of  miles,  and  if  Regulus 
has  the  same  attraction  as  our  own 
sun,  the  companion  would  revolve 
around  it  in  no  less  than  76,000  years. 
(Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  pages  354-5.) 
S 


Fig.  101.— Double  Star  Kegulus.    Scale— 100"=1  inch. 


Fig.  102.— Binary  y 


/3  (Beta)  Denebola— Double ;  magnitudes  2.1  and  8;  distance,  4'  42";  nice  field. 

y  (Gamma)  Algeiba— Binary;  magnitudes  2.5  and  4;  distance,  in  1880, 3".3;  beautiful  pair— one 
of  the  brightest ;  in  the  field  will  also  be  found  two  stars  of  the  7th  and  9th  magnitudes. 

&  (Delta)  Zosma—Is  a  triple  star. 

£  (Zeta)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.3  and  6;  distance,  5'  19";  easy  pair;  an  opera  glass  is  sufficient. 

t  (Iota)— Binary;  magnitudes  4  and  7;  distance,  2."7;  the  main  star  is  yellow,  and  the  com- 
panion changes  in  color  from  greenish-yellow  to  dark  blue;  when  it  is  of  the  darkest 
color  it  sometimes  conies  down  as  low  as  the  9th  magnitude. 

54 — Double;  magnitudes  4.5  and  7;  distance,  6".3;  nice  pair. 

r  (Tau^— Double;  magnitudes  5.2  and  7;  distance,  94";  very  easy  pair. 

88— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance,  15";  system  in  rapid  motion. 

90— Triple;  magnitudes  6,  7  and  8;  distances,  3".3  and  64". 

83— Double;  magnitudes  7  and  8;  distance,  30";  nice  pair;  white  and  pale  rose. 

w  (Omega)—  Binary;  magnitudes  5.9  and  7;  distance,  0".5  in  1880;  white  and  blue;  revolution 
124  years. 

R.— Is  the  principal  variable  of  this  constellation  and  varies  from  5.8  to  the  llth  mag- 
nitude in  331  days;  visible  to  the  naked 
eye  at  its  maximum.  It  is  between 
Regulus  and  o  (omicron) ;  in  the  same 
field  with  18  and  19,  and  its  red  color 
forms  a  striking  contrast  with  these 
two  stars,  which  are  of  the  6th  and 
7th  magnitudes  and  perfectly  white. 

M.  65  and  M.  66- Nebulae  i'  19"  apart  from 
each  other  (see  south  of  0  (theta)  near 
73).  Fig.  103.— Nebul*  M.  65,  and  M.  66. 


LEO -VIRGO. 


53 


H.  I,  5(5— Visible  in  the  field  south  of  9  (theta),  is  another  double  nebula  1V4'  wide  and  3'  long, 

south  of  A  (lambda). 

H.  1, 17— Is  also  a  double  nebula  between  9  (theta)  and  p  (rho). 
M.  95— Is  also  a  double  nebula ;  between  0  (theta)  and  p  (rho)  is  another  nebula  west  of  the  above. 

a  ( Alpha),  i?  (eta),  y  (gamma), 
£  (zeta),  n  (mu)  and  e  (epxilon), 
form  what  is  called  the  "Sickle." 


Fig.  104.— Nebula  H.  1, 56, 
in  Lord  Kosse's  telescope. 


Fig.  105.— Nebula  M.  65,  in  Lord  Eosse's  telescope. 


VIRGO.     ^ 

Virgo,  or  the  Virgin,  is  a  very  old  constellation,  mentioned  already  by  Eudoxus,  Aratus, 
Hipparchus  and  Ptolemy,  who  called  it  "  Parthenos  "  (the  Virgin) ;  it  was  also  named  Ceres, 
from  the  goddess  of  Agriculture ;  Themis,  from  the  goddess  of  Justice ;  Astraea,  from  the 
daughter  of  Jupiter  and  Themis,  goddess  of  Innocence  and  Purity,  who  was  the  last  of  the 
gods  obliged  to  withdraw  from  the  earth  at  the  end  of  the  "  Golden  Age,"  on  account  of  the 
crimes  of  humanity ;  it  was  also  sometimes  named  from  Diana,  of  Ephesus ;  from  Isis,  of 
Egypt;  from  Minerva,  mother  of  Bacchus,  etc.  It  is  called  Erigone  by  Virgil. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


a  (Spica)  dbl. 

1.5 

/3  dbl. 

3.5 

y  bin. 

3.2 

8  dbl. 

3.4  red 

e  dbl. 

2.8 

£  dbl. 

3.5 

q 

3.9 

«  trip. 

4.6 

i 

4.1 

K 

4.2  red 

\ 

4.9 

fj. 

4.0 

V 

4.1 

£ 

5.3 

o  dbl. 

4.2 

7T 

4.8 

P 

5.0 

(T 

5.3  red 

r  (U.l. 

4.4 

102  wl 

5.6 

103  v2 

6.8 

0  dbl. 

5.2 

B.  A.     IS 

80    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

13.19 

—10.32 

X 

5.2 

11.44 

+  2.26 

* 

5.2 

12.36 

—  0.47 

o> 

6.0 

12.50 

+  4.  3 

12.56 

+11.36 

4  Al 

5.8 

13.29 

+  0.   1 

6  A2 

6.1 

12.14 

0.  0 

7  h 

5.8 

13.  4 

-  4.54 

16  c 

5.5 

14.10 

—  5.24 

31  di 

6.0 

14.   6 

—  9.43 

32  <J2 

5.8 

14.13 

—12.49 

59  e 

5.5 

14.37 

—  5.  8 

25  / 

6.0 

11.40 

+  7.12 

0 

6.0 

1.1.39 

+  8.55 

71!  /( 

5.8 

11.59 

+  9.24 

68  I 

5.7  org. 

11.55 

+  7.17 

44  /f,  dbl. 

6.0 

12.36 

+io.r>4 

74  1 

r>.2  ivd 

13.12 

+  6.  6 

82  m 

5.8 

13.56 

+  2.  8 

n 

6.8 

14.13 

—  1.42 

78  o 

5.3 

14.16 

—  1.26 

90  p 

5.6 

14.22 

-  1.41 

21  q 

r,.v. 

R.  A. 

h.  m, 
12.33 
12.48 
11.32 


1880     DECL. 
O      f 

—  7.20 

—  8.54 
+  8.48 


11.42 

+  8.55 

11.49 

+  9.  7 

11.54 

+  4.19 

12.14 

+  3.58 

12.36 

+  7.28 

12.40 

+  8.20 

13.11 

+10.  3 

12.31 

—  5.10 

13.  2 

—  8.20 

13.27 

—  9.32 

13.  20 

—12.  5 

12.83 

—  3.10 

13.2C, 

—  5.38 

13.3f> 

—  8.  6 

13.49 

—  8.58 

13.28 

+  4.16 

13.49 

—  0.55 

12.28 

—  8.48 

"•:  r<, 

ii&lllfrv.  OlTV 


M 


VIRGO. 


DEBIGNA- 

VI  R  G  O—  CONTINUED. 

POSITION 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TICK. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     U 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     1 

580    DECL. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

h.  m. 

0       1 

49 

5.6 

13.  2 

—10.    6 

* 

7.0  red 

11.52 

+  4.10 

50 

6.3 

13.  3 

—  9.41 

* 

7.5  red 

44.19 

+26.15 

53  dbl. 

5.3 

13.  6 

—15.33 

* 

8.0  org. 

12.19 

+  1.27 

61  dbl. 

5.3 

13.12 

—17.39 

* 

7.0  org. 

14.18 

+  8.38 

63 

5.6 

13.17 

—17.   6 

69 

5.0 

13.21 

—15.21 

R 

7.V.  org. 

12.32 

+  7.39 

70 

5.5 

13.23 

+14.26 

S 

7.V.  org. 

13.27 

—  6.35 

75  dbl. 

6.0 

13.26 

—14.45 

T 

8.V.  red 

12.  8 

-  5.22 

84  bin.  (?) 

5.5 

13.37 

+  4.  9 

U 

8.V.  org. 

12.45 

+  6.12 

86  dbl. 

5.8 

13.40 

—11.49 

V 

8.V.  org. 

13.22 

—  2.33 

89 

5.4 

13.43 

—17.32 

X 

7.V. 

11.56 

+  9.44 

96 

6.9 

14.  3 

—  9.47 

* 

7.V. 

12.32 

+  2.38 

97 

7.0 

14.  7 

+  8.35 

* 

7.V. 

13.57 

—  1.48 

109 

4.5 

14.40 

+  2.24 

M.  60 

neb 

12.38 

+12.13 

4700  B.  A.  C. 

5.5  red 

14.  4 

—15.44 

H.  IV,  8-9 

neb.  dbl. 

12.31 

+11.53 

110 

4.9 

14.57 

+  2.34 

M.  58 

neb. 

12.33 

+12.29 

P.  XII,  142 

4.V. 

12.32 

+  2.31 

M.  84 

neb. 

12.20 

+13.33 

P.  XIII,  174 

6.5 

13.38 

—  4.54 

M.  86 

neb. 

12.21 

+13.46 

P.  XIV,  12 

5.0 

14.   6 

+  2.58 

M.  87 

neb. 

12.25 

+13.  2 

Lai.  23228 

6.1 

12.19 

—10.56 

M.88 

neb. 

12.26 

+15.  5 

Lai.  25086 

5.V. 

13.28 

—12.36 

M.  90 

neb. 

12.31 

+13.49 

54  dbl. 

6.3 

13.  7 

—17.56 

M.  91 

neb. 

12.33 

+14.26 

84  dbl. 

5.8 

13.37 

+  4.  9 

H.  II,  74-75 

neb.  dbl. 

12.47 

+11.57 

P.  XII,  32  dbl. 

6.0 

12.12 

—  3.16 

M.  99 

neb. 

12.13 

+15.  5 

P.  XII,  196  dbl 

6.5 

12.46 

-  9.38 

H.  I,  43 

neb. 

12.34 

—10.57 

P.XIII,127dbl 

8.0 

13.29 

+  0.21 

H.  I,  70 

cl. 

14.23 

—  5.26 

17  dbl. 

7.0  red 

12.16 

+  5.58 

M.  61 

neb.  dbl. 

12.16 

+  5.  8 

* 

6.5 

12.32 

+14.50 

NOTES. 

£  (Beta}  is  also  called  Zavijava,  and  e  (epsilon)  Vindemiatrix. 

•y  (Gamma)— Binary  ;jn%nitude  3.0  and  3.2;  distance,  in  1880,  5";  one  of  the  finest  pairs;  both 
yellow;  we  see  its  orbit  from  here  nearly  as  it  is  in  reality.  We  give  below  a  table 
showing  the  position  of  the  components  and  names  of  observers  since  1718: 


YEAR. 

OBSERVERS. 

DISTANCE. 

.  ANGLE. 

1718 

Bradley  and  Cassini  . 

6"     ± 

331° 

1756 

Tobie  Mayer.  ...         

6"     ± 

324° 

1781 

William  Herschel  

6" 

311° 

1803 

William  Herschel  

4V 

300° 

18°0 

John  Herschel  and  South 

3" 

284° 

1830 

W  Struve  and  Dawes. 

1"8 

262° 

1836 

Smyth,  Dawes,  Struve  

0".4 

140° 

1840 

Kaiser,  Galle,  Madler  

1".3 

970 

1850 
1860 

Wrottesley,  Main,  Jacob  
Secchi,  Knott,  Dembowski  

2".8 

3".9 

356° 
348° 

1870 

Duner  Wilson    Gledhill                    .  . 

4"  5 

342° 

1880 

Hall  Stone,  Flammarion          

5"0 

337° 

The  perihelion  arrived  in  1836,  and  the  two  stars  were  so  close  to  each  other  that  they 
could  not  be  separated ;  the  revolution  takes  175  years ;  the  velocity  of  the  companion  is  over 
60  times  more  rapid  at  the  perihelion  than  at  the  aphelion.  This  remarkable  pair  shows  no 
signs  of  parallax,  and  the  two  stars  must  be  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other;  one  is  some- 
times brighter  than  the  other. 


VIRGO. 


Fig.  106.— Orbit  of  y 


21757— Binary;  magnitudes  8  and  9;  distance,  2";  very  close  pair;  white  and  yellow;  revolu- 
tion, 292  years. 

6  (Theta)— Triple;  magnitudes 4.5-9  and  10;  distances,  7"  and  65". 
84— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  8.5 :  distance,  3".5;  yellow  and  blue ;  suspected  binary. 
54— Double;  magnitudes  6.3  and  7.5;  distance,  5".7 ;  stationary  for  over  100  years. 
17— Double;  magnitudes  6.5  and  9;  distance,  20";  rose  and  red;  beautiful  pair. 
P.  XII,  196— Double ;  magnitudes  6.5  and  9.5;  distance,  33";  both  orange. 
P.  XII,  32— Double;  magnitudes  6.0  and  6.5;  distance,  21";  nice  pair. 
P.  XII,  127— Double;  magnitudes  8  and  9;  distance,  2".3;  delicate  pair;  very  near  £  (zeta). 


17C0 


Fig.  107.— Proper  motion  of  Star  61  since  Hipparchus. 

61— Is  a  star  in  rapid  motion ;  the  only  one  whose  motion  has  been  observed  by  the  naked  eye 
in  comparing  its  position  at  different  epochs  with  the  surrounding  stars;  in  Hipparchus' 
time  it  was  near  63;  since  Hipparchus,  130  B.  C.  to  1888,  it  has  moved  48'  S.  W.,  or  154 
times  the  apparent  diameter  of  the  moon.  (Fig.  107.) 

2  1819— Binary;  magnitudes  7  and  8;  distance,  1".2;  very  close  pair;  revolution,  380  years  (see 
near  12). 

This  constellation  contains  more  than  500  nebulae.   It  is  the  richest  of  the  heavens,  con- 
taining more  nebulae  than  stars;  we  will  note  only  the  principal  ones: 

M.60;  M.59;  M.58;  H.  11,71;  H.IV,8;  M.84;  M.  85;  M.86;  M.87;  M.88;  M.89;  M.  90-North 
of  p  (r/io);  splendid  field.  (Fig.  108.) 


VIRGO. 


Fig.  108.— A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  Constellation  Virgo 


Fig.  109.-Nebulaj  M.  60,  H.  II,  71,  and  M.  59. 


Fig.  110.— Nebulse  H.  II,  75,  and  H.  II,  74.  Fig.  111.— Double  Nebula  M.  61 


VIRGO -LIBRA. 


57 


Fig.  112.— Nebula  Messier  99,  in  Lord  Rosse's  telescope. 
H.  11,75— Near  e  (e/witon);  oval  nebula,  comet-like,  with  three  small  stars  in  triangular  shape. 

In  the  same  field  is  another  circular  nebula  with  a  double  star  near  it  of  the  7th  and  9th 

magnitudes.    (Fig.  110.) 

M.  61— Between  16  and  17  is  a  curious  double  nebula.    (Fig.  111.) 
M.  99— Near  6  of  Coma  Berenices  is  the  splendid  nebula,  which,  in  Lord  Rosse's  telescope, 

looked  like  a  lighted  "  pinwheel."    (Fig.  112.) 

H.  1, 43— Between  196  and  23,675  of  Corvus,  is  a  nebula  4  minutes  long  by  only  50  seconds  wide. 
H.  I,  70— Between  «.  (iota)  and  M  (mw)  is  a  nice  cluster  of  blue  stars,  with  a  red  star  of  the  8th 

magnitude  near  it. 


LIBRA.     A 

Libra,  the  Scales  or  the  Balance,  is  generally  considered  as  having  been  introduced  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  the  Roman  emperor  Augustus  Caesar,  to  celebrate  his  justice;  but  it  was 
already  mentioned  by  Manetho,  Egyptian  historian,  about  300  years  B.  C.,  and  was  taken  out 
of  the  constellation  Scorpio  to  form  the  twelfth  sign  of  the  zodiac. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
ft  dbl. 

Y 


quad. 


dbl. 


n  dbl. 

V    (11)1. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.0 

2.9V. 

4.4  yel. 
5.V. 

5.5 

5.8 

5.9 

4.8  org. 

5.0 

5.5 

5.5 

5.7 

5.5  red 
G.I 


R.  A.      1 

$0     DECL. 

WMU0A* 

TIO-X. 

JWA<:r«.i- 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0     ' 

14.44 

—15.33 

P 

5.7 

15.11 

8.56 

odbl. 

6.4 

15.29 

14.24 

6 

5.5  red 

14.55 

8.02 

11 

5.4 

15.18 

9.53 

16 

4.8 

15.21 

16.18 

49 

5.6 

15.37 

15.17 

37 

5.5 

15.47 

16.22 

28344  Lai. 

5.6 

ir>.  r> 

19.20 

48 

5.4 

15.35 

19.17 

P.XIV,212  trip.  6.3 

15.46 

19.48 

s 

7.V. 

14.43 

13.39 

* 

7.V.  org. 

15.  0 

15.47    i    2  1962  dbl. 

6.0 

14.48 

11.24    >, 

POSITION 

R.  A.     li 

580    DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

14.50 

—10.55 

15.14 

15.  7 

14.43 

27.25 

14.45 

1.48 

14.51 

3.51 

15.54 

16.11 

15.28 

9.39 

15.28 

8.47 

15.51 

13.56 

14.50 

20.52 

15.15 

19.57 

15.37 

10.32 

15.32 

8.24 

LIBRA— SCORPIO. 


NOTES. 


-a(AlpbalKffiaAwtirali8orZubeiwl  Genuln  -Double  ;  magnitudes  3  and  6;  distance,  3'  49"; 

easy  pair  with  an  opera  glass. 

ft  (Beta)  Kiffa  Borealis  or  Zuben  el  Chameli—  Has  a  greenish  color  ;  very  rare  . 
y  (Gamma)  Zuben  flafcra/ci—  Was  seen  of  the  6th  magnitude  by  Hevelius;  of  3d  by  Bayer; 

it  is  now  of  the  4^th  magnitude. 

$(Zeta)—  Has  in  the  same  field  three  little  stars  of  the  6th  magnitude. 
t  (Iota)—  Triple;  magnitudes  5.0-9  and  10;  distances,  57"  and  1".9;  nice  field. 
P.  XIV,  212—  Double:  magnitudes  6.3  and  7;  distance,  15";  it  is  in  rapid  proper  motion,  202"  in 

100  years  ;  direction  S.  E.  ;  the  smaller  one  does  not  go  quite  so  fast  as  the  other,  and 

perhaps  forms  only  a  pair  in  perspective  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  388). 
S  (Delta)—  Is  a  variable  of  the  shortest  period,  varying  from  4.9  to  6.1  magnitude  in  2  days  7 

hours  51  minutes  and  19  seconds. 

There  are  three  other  variables  in  this  constellation  requiring  good  power  to  be  followed. 


SCORPIO.  mE 

Scorpio,  or  the  Scorpion.  This  constellation  is  very  old,  being  mentioned  already  by 
Eudoxus,  and  its  name  comes  from  its  shape  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  stars,  which  offer  some 
resemblance  to  this  venomous  animal.  In  ancient  times  this  constellation  was  extended  as 
far  as  the  Virgo.  The  "  claws  "  were  taken  out  to  form  the  constellation  Libra. 

It  is  also  supposed  to  be  the  scorpion  which  bit  Orion  at  the  time  when  he  was  near 
catching  Diana,  whom  he  was  pursuing. 

! 


.U  JL-B.lt*  HA- 

TION. 

mAVf  £*.!.- 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     U 

80    DECL. 

TIOS. 

iu.Au.n.1- 
TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

h.  m. 

O      / 

a  (Antares)bin 

.  1.6  red 

16.22 

—26.10 

2  A 

5.2 

15.47 

—24.57 

is  trip. 

2.5 

15.58 

19.29 

27) 

5.3 

15.44 

25.23 

y 

3.5  red 

14.57 

24.49 

13  Ci 

5.3 

16.  5 

27.37 

8 

2.4 

15.53 

22.17 

P.  XVI,  31  C2 

5.5 

16.  5 

28.19 

c 

2.3 

16.42 

34.  4 

19 

5.1 

16.13 

23.53 

£1 

5.8 

16.45 

42.  9 

22 

5.3 

16.23 

24.51 

& 

3.6 

16.46 

42.  9 

24 

5.5 

16.34 

17.31 

1J 

3.6 

17.  3 

43.  4 

P.  XV,  116 

3.9 

15.29 

27.45 

6 

2.1 

17.29 

42.56 

P.  XVI,  35 

0.0 

16.11 

30.37 

i  dbl. 

3.3 

17.39 

40.  5 

P.  XVI,  55 

5.8 

16.15 

38.55 

K 

2.6 

17.34 

38.58 

P.  XVI,  92 

5.7 

16.22 

34.27 

\ 

2.0 

17.25 

37.   1 

P.  XVI,  111 

4.4 

16.27 

35.  1 

M1 

3.6 

16.44 

37.51 

P.XVI,236dbl 

6.3 

16.50 

19.21 

/x2 

3.9 

16.44 

37.49 

P.  XVI,  255 

5.7 

16.53 

31.58 

v  dbl. 

4.3 

16.  5 

19.  9 

P.  XVII,  137 

4.5 

17.27 

38.33 

£  trin. 

4.6 

15.58 

11.  3 

P.  XVII,  229 

3.4 

17.40 

37.  0 

o 

3.8 

15.31 

29.23 

2  1999  dbl. 

7.4 

16.  1 

11.  7 

TT 

3.4 

15.52 

25.46 

T  (1860) 

7.V. 

16.10 

22.41 

P 

4.5 

15.49 

28.52 

* 

6.V. 

16.49 

32.58 

a-  dbl. 

5.4 

16.14 

25.18 

* 

8.0  blood  red 

16.32 

32.  8 

T 

3.2 

16.28 

27.58 

* 

8.0  red 

17.32 

41.33 

V 

3.2 

17.23 

37.12 

* 

6.0  red 

16.28 

35.  0 

X1 

5.6 

16.  7 

11.32 

M.  80 

el. 

16.10 

22.41 

\fj 

5.2 

16.  5 

9.45 

0,1  dbl. 

4.4 

16.  0 

20.20 

u>2 

4.6  red 

16.   1 

20.33 

NOTES, 
a  (Alpha)  Antares—Is  one  of  the  finest  double  stars;  magnitudes  1.6  and  7;  distance,  3".3;  red 

and  emerald ;  it  requires  a  good  telescope  to  separate  them ;  it  is  most  likely  a  binary. 
/8  (Beta)— Triple;  magnitudes  2.5-10  and  5.5;  distances,  0".9  and  13";   the  first  two  form  a 

difficult  pair;  the  close  companion  was  discovered  at  Chicago  by  Mr.  Burnhain. 


SCORPIO  —  SAGITT  A  KIU  S. 


Scale— 25"=1  inch. 


Fig.  114.— Quadruple  Star  v 


Scale— 25"=1  inch. 


Fig.  113.— Double  Star  Antares. 

v  ( Nu)—  Quadruple ;    composed  of 

two  double  stars  of  the  4th 

and  7th  magnitudes,  at  40"  dis- 
tance; very  easy  pair;  the  star 

of  the  7th    magnitude    was 

noted  double  in  1846  by  Mr. 

Mitchell,  at  Cincinnati,  and 

the  brightest  by  Mr.  Burnham,  at  Chicago,  in  1874;   the  two  doubles  are  very  close  and 

difficult  pairs;  the  first  is  composed  of  two  stars  of  the  4th  and  5th  magnitudes;  distance 

only  1";  the  second,  of  two  stars  of  the  7th  and  8th  magnitudes ;  distance  1".9.    (Fig.  114.) 
<r  (Sigma)—  Double;  magnitudes  3.4  and  9;  distance,  20". 
w  (Omega)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.5 and  4.5;  distance,  l4l/2';  they  are  far  enough  apart  to  be 

separated  with  the  naked  eye ;  very  interesting  pair. 
n  (M u)— Double;  magnitudes  3.6  and  3.9;  distance, 

8';  easy  with  an  opera  glass. 

f  (Zi)— Trinary;  magnitudes  5.0-5.2  and  7.5 ;  distan- 
ces, 1".3  and  7".3,  in  1880;  the  first  two  revolve 

around  each  other  in  96  years.    (Fig.  115.) 
P.  XVI,  35— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance. 

23";  nice  pair. 

2  1999— Double ;  magnitudes  7.4  and  8.1 ;  distance,  10". 
Anonyma— Between  e  (epsilon)  and  t  (tau)  is  a  very 

red  star,  called  "the  drop  of  blood"  by  Sir 

John  Herschel;  it  is  of  the  8th  magnitude. 
M.  80— Is  a  cluster  composed  of  a  large  number  of 

small  stars,  and  in  the  same  field  are  the  three 

variables,  R.,  S.  and  T.     See  between  Antares 

and  /3  (beta). 
T  (I860)— T,  in  the  center  of  the  above  nebula,  is 

generally  of  the  10th  magnitude;  but  the  2lst  of  May,  1860,  it  was  seen  of  the 

magnitude,  nearly  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  and  the  10th  of  June  it  came  down  to  its 

ordinary  magnitude. 


Fig.  115.— Trinary  £ 


SAGITTARIUS.     <fr 

Sagittarius,  or  the  Archer,  represents,  according  to  the  Greeks,  the  Centaur  Cheiron,  to 
whom  they  attribute  the  invention  of  the  celestial  sphere.  He  was  the  preceptor  of  Peleus, 
Achilles  and  Diomed.  Wounded  by  a  poisonous  arrow,  and  suffering  terribly,  he  asked  to  be 
put  to  death ;  but  as  he  was  immortal,  the  gods  placed  him  among  the  stars. 

This  constellation  is  said  to  have  been  designed  by  Cleostratus  of  Tenedos,  in  the  6tn 
century  B.  C.  It  is  also  mentioned  by  Eudoxus. 


SAGITTARIUS. 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

TION  . 

TUBE. 

B.  A.     18 

$0     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0     I 

h.  m. 

0      / 

a 

4.0 

19.15 

—40.51 

43  d 

5.6 

19.11 

19.10 

/3i  dbl. 

3.8 

19.14 

44.41 

54  el  trip. 

5.5 

19.34 

16.34 

02 

4.4 

19.14 

45.  1 

55  C2 

5.4 

19.36 

16.24 

V 

2.8  yel. 

17.58 

30.25 

56  / 

5.2 

19.39 

20.  3 

8 

2.8  red 

18.13 

29.53 

61  g 

5.3 

19.51 

15.48 

e 

2.2 

18.16 

34.26 

51  ftl 

5.V. 

19.29 

24.59 

£dbl. 

3.1 

18.55 

30.  3 

52  fc2 

4.7 

19.29 

25.  9 

*) 

3.3  yel. 

18.  9 

36.48 

3X 

4.V. 

17.40 

27.47 

01 

4.5 

19.52 

35.36 

W 

5.V. 

17.57 

29.35 

i 

4.3 

19.47 

42.11 

4  dbl. 

5.4 

17.52 

23.48 

Ki 

5.5 

20.14 

42.26 

9 

6.0 

17.56 

24.22 

\ 

2.7  yel. 

18.21 

25.29 

21 

5.1  red 

18.18 

20.36 

13  jul  dbl. 

4.3  org. 

18.  7 

21.  5 

29 

5.5 

18.43 

20.28 

15  M2 

5.8 

18.  8 

20.46 

P.  XVII,  294 

5.4 

17.50 

30.14 

vi  dbl. 

5.0  red 

18.47 

22.54 

P.  XVII,  359 

5.1 

17.59 

28.28 

v2 

5.1  red 

18.48 

22.49 

P.  XVII,  367 

5.9 

18.  1 

30.45 

£2 

3.5  red 

18.51 

21.16 

P.  XVIII,  24 

5.1 

18.10 

27.  6 

3.8  yel. 

18.57 

21.55 

P.  XVIII,  146 

5.2 

18.35 

35.46 

3.1 

19.  3 

21.13 

8310  Lac. 

5.0 

19.56 

38.16 

1 

4.2 

19.15 

18.  4 

R 

7.V.  org. 

19.10 

19.31 

dbl. 

2.4  V. 

18.48 

26.27 

T 

8.V.  org. 

19.  9 

17.11 

3.6  yel. 

18.59 

27.51 

U 

7.V.  org. 

18.25 

19.13 

4.9 

19.15 

16.11 

* 

8.0  red 

20.21 

28.39 

<}> 

3.7 

18.38 

27.  7 

* 

6.5  red 

19.27 

16.38 

47  x1 

5.4 

19.18 

24.44 

* 

7.0  red 

20.  0 

27.34 

49  x2 

5.G 

19.18 

24.12 

Temp,  of  1690 

19.  ± 

20.  ± 

* 

5.4 

19.  8 

25.28 

M.  22 

cl. 

18.29 

24.  0 

H 

5.1 

19.48 

26.37 

M.  25 

cl 

18.25 

19.  9 

M.  8 

cl. 

17.57 

24.22 

60  A 

5.3 

19.52 

26.31 

M.  20 

neb. 

17.55 

23.  2 

59  b 

4.6 

19.50 

27.29 

M.  21 

cl 

17.57 

22.31 

62  c 

4.7  yel. 

19.55 

28.  3 

H.  VII,  30 

cl. 

18.  6 

21.36 

All  visible 

to  the 
naked  eve. 


NOTES. 

/3i  (Betai)  and  /32  (Beta2)—  Magnitudes  3.8  and  4.5;  distance,  22'.    /3i  (betai)  is  itself  double;  its 

companion,  at  29"  distance,  was  noted  of  the  9th  magnitude  by  Piazzi ;  of  8th  magnitude 

by  John  Herschel,  and  of  62ith  magnitude  by  Gould, 
e  (Epsilon)— Is  also  called  Kaus  Australis. 
£i  (Zii)  and  £2  (Ztf)— Magnitudes  3l/»  and  5;  distance,  29'. 
pi  (Rhoi)  and  p2  (Rhot)— Magnitudes  4|/2  and  6;  distance,  28'. 
xi  (ChU)  and  *2  (ChV)— Magnitudes  5.5  and  5.6;  distance,  31'. 
0i  (IVietai)  and  02  (Theta^— Magnitudes  4V2  and  5Y2 ;  distance,  35'. 
51  and  52— Magnitudes  4.7  and  5;  distance,  14'.    51  varies  from  4.5  to  6.7  magnitude. 
v  (Nu)— Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  5.1;   distance,  12'.     This  pair  was  already  visible  with 

the  naked  eye  2,000  years  ago;  Ptolemy  took  it  for  a  double  nebula;  it  was  not  well 

defined  then. 
Mi  (Mui)—  Triple;  magnitudes  4.3-9  and  10 ;  distances,  40"  and  45" ;  in  large  telescopes  another 

star  of  13th  magnitude  at  15"  is  also  seen,  which  really  makes  ju,1  (m«i)  a  quadruple  star. 
54— Double;  magnitudes  5*4  and  8;  distance,  28";  nice  field  of  small  stars. 
21— Double;  magnitudes  5.1  and  9;  distance,  2";  very  close  pair;  orange  and  blue. 
<r  (Sigma)— Double ;  magnitudes  2.5  and  9;  distance,  5';  the  main  star  is  also  variable. 

This  constellation,  traversed  by  the  "  Milky  Way,"  is  rich  in  nebulae;  the  principal  are : 
M.  8— A  beautiful  cluster,  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  in  a  large  field  could  be  seen  a  triple  star 

followed  by  an  agglomeration  of  stars  offering  two  foci  of  condensation;  splendid  sight. 
M.  21— Is  another  cluster,  larger  but  not  so  bright;  near  the  center  is  a  double  star  of  the 

9th  magnitude. 

X.— Varies  from  the  4th  to  the  6th  magnitude  in  7  days  17  minutes  and  42  seconds. 
W.— Varies  from  the  5th  to  the  6l/£th  magnitude  in  7  days  14  hours  15  minutes  and  34  seconds. 
U. — Varies  from  the  7th  to  the  8th  magnitude  in  6  days  17  hours  53  minutes  and  1  second. 

In  this  constellation,  between  y  (gamma)  and  3  X,  there  is  a  curious  black  hole  in  the 
"Milky  Way."    (See  Fig.  60,  page  28.) 


SAGITTARIUS  —  C  APRICORNUS. 


ill 


West  of  M  (mw),  Mr.  Pickering,  of  Cambridge,  noticed,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1880,  a  star 
of  the  8th  magnitude,  offering  a  spectrum  similar  to  the  one  of  the  temporary  of  Corona 
Borealis,  indicating  an  incandescent  atmosphere;  perhaps  it  is  a  bright  nebula  already  con- 
densed (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  415). 


Fig.  116.— A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  the  Constellation  Sagittarius. 

T  (1690)— The  Jesuit  astronomers  of  the  observatory  of  Pekin  noted,  the  28th  of  September, 
1690,  a  star  of  the  4th  magnitude;  the  4th  of  October  it  was  hardly  visible,  and  it  soon 
disappeared.  This  observation  was  found  by  Mr.  Schiaparelli  only  some  years  ago;  the 
position  was  not  well  defined  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  414). 


CAPRICORNUS.     o^ 

Capricornus,  the  Goat,  also  called  the  Sea-Goat,  was  the  god  Mentes  of  the  Egyptians, 
and  the  object  of  several  stories  in  Greek  mythology.  It  is  mentioned  by  Eudoxus,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  constellations. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


*  trip, 
dbl. 


dbl. 


dbl. 
dbl. 
dbl. 
dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.5  yel. 

3.6  yel. 
3.2 

3.7 
2.8 
4.7 
3.7 
5.1 
4.1 
4.4 
5.0 
5.7 
5.4 
5.2 
6.3 
6.3 
5.5 
5.3 
5.6  yel. 


R.  A.     18 

80    DECL. 

lJl«,!Slli  .NA- 
TION. 

h.  m. 

0     / 

20.11 

—12.53 

T 

20.11 

12.55 

V 

20.14 

15.10 

<*> 

21.33 

17.12 

x  trip. 

21.40 

16.40 

* 

21.30 

20.  0 

H 

21.20 

22.56 

24  A 

20.58 

20.20 

36  h 

20  59 

17.43 

46  d 

21.16 

17.21 

47  C2 

21.36 

19.25 

29 

21.40 

11.56 

30 

21.47 

14.  7 

33 

20.14 

13.  8 

41 

20.  6 

12.58 

42 

20.23 

18.59 

S 

20.20 

18.37 

* 

20.22 

18.13 

M.30 

20.12 

19.30 

M.  72 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.6 

5.7 

5.5 

5.4 

4.3 

4.1 

4.8 

4.7 

5.5 

6.4 

5.7 

5.5 

5.7 

5.8 

5.6 

7.V. 

7.0  red 

cl 

cL 


R.  A. 

h.  m. 

20.33 

20.33 

21.  9 

21.  2 

20.39 

20.45 

21.  0 

21.22 

21.39 

21.40 

21.  9 

21.11 

21.17 

21.35 

21.35 

20.10 

20.10 

21.34 

20.47 


)    DECL. 

o    / 

—15  22 
18.34 
21.  9 
21.41 
25.42 
27.22 
25.30 
22.20 
9.38 
9.50 
15.40 
18.29 
21.22 
23.48 
14.35 
21.42 
21.41 
23.43 
12.59 


(,-_>  C  APRICORXUS  —  AQUARIUS. 

NOTES. 

Two  thousand  years  ago  the  sun  was  in  this  constellation  the  21st  of  December  and  hi 
the  constellation  of  Cancer  the  21st  of  June;  since  that  time  the  geographers  indicate  a  line 
23°  28'  north,  and  another  23°  28'  south  of  the  equator,  and  call  the  first  Tropic  of  Cancer  and 
the  other  Tropic  of  Capricorn ;  by  the  effects  of  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes  it  is  now  Sag- 
ittarius, which  is  the  most  southern  constellation  of  the  Zodiac,  and  the  Gemini,  the  northern 
one ;  still  the  old  names  keep  going  on. 
ai  (Alpha))  and  a2  (Alpha1*)—  Magnitudes  3.6  and  4.5;  distance,  6'  16"  in  1880;  these  stars  are 

going  away  from  each  other  at  the  rate  of  1"  for  100  years ;  in  Hipparchus'  time  they 

were  only  4  minutes  apart;  our  Fig.  118  shows  the  separation  of  the  two  stars  for  3,000 

years. 
a2  (Alpha?)  Secunda  Giedi— Has  a  close  double  companion,  in  large  telescopes;  distances,  6" 

and  l".5. 
02  (Beta'2)— Double;  magnitudes  3.2  and  7;  distance,  3'  25";  easy  pair,  with  a  star  of  the  8th  to 

9th  magnitude  in  the  field  forming  a  nice  triangle. 

/si  (Beta*)  is  a  double;  magnitudes  7  and  9;  distance,  0".85;  discovered  by  Mr.  Barnard 
in  1883. 

46  ci— Double:  magnitudes  5.5  and  7;  distance,  3';  visible  with  an  opera  glass. 
ft  (Rho)—  Double;  magnitudes  5.3  and  7.5;  distance,  4';  the  main  star  is  itself  a  close  pair,  hav 

ing  a  companion  of  the  9th  magnitude  at  3".8  only. 

<r(Siv ma)— Double;  magnitudes  5.6  and  10;  distance,  54";  orange  and  lilac ;  easy  pair, 
o  (Omicron)— Double;  magnitudes  6.3  and  7;  distance,  22";  nice  pair;  both  bluish. 
IT  ( Pi)— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  8;  distance,  3".4;  delicate  pair. 
M.  30— Is  a  nice  cluster  east  of  £  (zeta);  a  star  of  the  6th  magnitude  appears  in  the  field. 

S 


Fig.  118.— Separation  of  ai  and  erf. 
Fig.  117.-Cluster  M.  30. 

M.  72— Between  v  (nu)  of  Aquarius  and  r  (taw)  is  also  a  nebula  nearly  2  minutes  in  diameter. 

composed  entirely  of  small  stars  defined  for  the  first  time  by  Herschel;  a  star  of  t'.te 

6th  magnitude  appears  at  30'  from  it. 

This  constellation  contains  some  variables,  too  small  for  common  telescopes. 
R.— Varies  from  the  9th  to  14th  magnitude  in  about  l  year. 
S.— Varies  from  the  7th  to  8>4th ;  time  not  yet  known. 
T.— Varies  from  the  9th  to  14th  in  274  days. 
U.— Varies  from  the  lOKzth  to  14th  in  450  days. 


AQUARIUS.     $& 

Aquarius,  the  Water  Bearer  or  Waterman,  is,  according  to  Greek  mythology,  Gany- 
mede, the  beautiful  Phrygian  boy,  son  of  Tros,  carried  by  the  eagle  of  Jupiter  to  heaven, 
where  he  took  the  place  of  Hebe  as  cupbearer  of  the  gods. 

It  is  one  of  the  oldest  constellations,  already  mentioned  by  Eudoxus. 


AQUARIUS. 

63 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNT- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     1 

WO     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

h.  m. 

O     r 

a  dbl. 

2.7 

22.  0 

—  0.54 

101  53 

4.5 

23.27 

—21.34 

B  dbl. 

2.6 

21.25 

—  6.  6 

86  Cl 

4.4 

23.  0 

—24.23 

Y  dbl. 

3.9 

22.15 

—  1.59 

88  C2 

3.7 

23.  3 

—21.49 

8 

3.2 

22.48 

—16.28 

89  C3 

4.9 

23.  3 

—23.  6 

e 

3.8 

20.41 

—  9.56 

25  d 

5.5 

21.33 

+  1.42 

f  bin. 

3.5 

22.23 

—  0.38 

38  e 

5.6 

22.  4 

—12.01 

ij 

4.1 

22.29 

—  0.44 

53  /,  dbl. 

5.8 

22.20 

—17.21 

e 

4.3 

22.11 

—  8.23 

66  #1 

4.9 

22.37 

—19.28 

i 

4.4 

22.  0 

—14.27 

68  02 

5.4  yel. 

22.41 

—20.14 

K 

5.2 

22.32 

—  4.50 

83  /i,  dbl. 

5.4 

22.59 

—  8.20 

A 

3.6  red 

22.46 

—  8.13 

106  ii 

5.2 

23.38 

—18.56 

M. 

5.0 

20.46 

—  9.26 

107  *2,  dbl. 

5.4 

23.40 

—19.21 

f 

4.7 

21.03 

—11.52 

108  f3 

5.1 

23.45 

—19.34 

£ 

5.0 

21.31 

—  8.24 

l  trip. 

5.6 

20.33 

+  0.  4 

o 

4.9 

21.57 

—  2.44 

3 

4.8 

20.41 

—  5.28 

It 

4.9 

21.19 

+  0.46 

5 

5.8 

20.46 

—  5.57 

p 

5.6 

22.14 

—  8.25 

7 

5.9 

20.50 

—10.  9 

(T 

5.1 

22.24 

—11.17 

12  dbl. 

5.7 

20.58 

—  6.18 

69  ri,  dbl 

5.8 

22.41 

—14.41 

29  dbl. 

6.0 

21.56 

—17.32 

71  T-',  dbl 

4.2  red 

22.43 

—14.14 

41  dbl. 

5.8 

22.  8 

—21.40 

V 

5.7 

22.28 

—21.19 

46090  Lai. 

6.V. 

23.26 

—11.40 

<t> 

4.1  org. 

23.  8 

—  6.41 

94  dbl. 

5.5  yel. 

23.13 

—14.  7 

^ 

5.3  red 

23.11 

—  8.23 

97 

5.3 

23.16 

—15.42 

«M  dbl. 

4.1  yel. 

23.10 

—  9.44 

P.  XXII,  250 

5.9 

22.49 

—  5.38 

£2 

4.2 

23.12 

—  9.50 

2  2809  dbl. 

6.0 

21.31 

—  0.58 

£3 

4.8 

23.13 

—10.16 

R 

7.V.  red 

23.38 

—15.57 

col 

5.2 

23.34 

—14.53 

S 

8.V.  org. 

22.51 

—20.59 

0)2  dbl. 

4.7 

23.36 

—15.12 

T 

7.V.  org. 

20.44 

—  5.35 

* 

6.5  red 

21.40 

—  2.46 

103  Al 

5.8 

23.35 

—18.41 

* 

7.0  red 

22.53 

—25.48 

104  A2 

5.0 

23.36 

—18.29 

M.  2 

cl. 

21.27 

—  1.21 

98  bi 

3.9 

23.17 

—20.45 

H.  IV,  1 

neb. 

20.58 

—11.50 

99  &2 

4.4 

23.20 

-21.18 

NOTES. 

The 

principal  stars 

are  called  :    a  (alpha)   Sadalmelik  ;    8  (beta) 

Sadalsund  ;  and 

8  (delta)   Skat. 

Near  6  (delta)  Tobie  Mayer  observed  Uranus  the  26th  of  September,  1756,  in  this  constel- 
lation; had  he  known  it  was  a  planet  he  would  have  had  the  honor  of  discovering  it  twenty- 
flve  years  before  William  Herschel. 
£  (Zeta)— Binary;    magnitudes  3.5  and  4.4;  distance,  3".5;  nice  pair;  revolution  800  years— 

perhaps  over  1,000  years. 
83  h— Double;  magnitudes  5.4  and  7.5;   distance,  4'; 

easy  pair. 
»//i  (Psi  i)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.1  and  9;  distance, 

50";  yellow  and  blue;    easy  pair;  three  stars 

in  the  field.    The  small  star  is  a  close  double, 

discovered  by  Mr.  Burnham;  distance,  0".25. 
ri  (Tcrni)— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  9;  distance, 

28";  elegant  pair. 
94— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  7.5;  distance,  14"; 

rose  and  light  blue;   nice  pair. 
53 /—Double;   magnitudes  5.8  and  6;   distance,  8"; 

easy  pair. 
107  ii— Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  7.5;  distance, 

5".6;  white  and  purple. 


Fig.  119.— Binary  Star  £ 


41— Double;  magnitudes  5.8  and  8.5;  distance,  4".8;  topaz  and  blue;  beautiful  pair. 
12— Double;  magnitudes  5.7  and  8.5;  distance,  2".8;  close  and  delicate  pair. 


04 


AQUAKIUS. 


46090  Lai.— West  of  the  three  stars  $  (psi)  is  a  variable  from  the  5Hth  to  8th  magnitude;  not 

visible  to  the  naked  eye  since  1878;  noted  of  Gth  magnitude  by  Heis  and  Argelander;  of 

6l/2  by  Lalande;  period  of  variation  not  yet  determined. 
R.— Near  w  (omega),  varies  from  the  Gth  to  the  llth  magnitude  in  388  days.    There  are  other 

variables  too  small  for  common  telescopes. 
M.  2— Very  fine  "  amas  "  discovered  by  Maraldi  in  1746.    When  W.  Herschel  saw  it  through 

his  40-foot  telescope  he  found  there  thousands  and  thousands  of  stars;  diameter  3'  (see 

between  /3  (beta)  and  25).    (Figs.  120  and  121.) 


Fig.  120.— M.  2  in  common  telescope. 


Fig.  122.— Nebula  H.  IV,  1. 


Fig.  121.— Cluster  M.  2,  in  powerful  telescopes. 

H.  IV,  1— Is  the  beautiful  nebula  somewhat  resembling 
Saturn  in  large  telescopes ;  it  this  nebula  was  only 
as  far  from  us  as  61  of  Cygnus  this  gaseous  globe 
would  be  264  billions  times  larger  than  the  sun,  or 

338  quadrillions  896  trillions  and  800  billions  times  larger  than  the  earth;  it  measured 
28"  in  length  and  18"  in  width,  and  shines  with  a  bluish  color;  is  composed  chiefly  of 
nitrogen  and  hydrogen  and  is  most  likely  a  world  in  formation.  In  1794  Lalande  noted 
it  as  a  star  of  7l/2tl\  magnitude,  but  W.  Herschel,  in  1782,  already  recognized  it  as  a  nebula 
(Kevue  d'Ast.,  1882;  page  291);  it  is  between  v  (mi)  and  e  (epsilon).  (Fig.  122.) 


' 


•^•to^    1st  Magnitude.^ 
MAGNITUDE      *  to  *    2nd  I  stars  underlined  are 

OF  STABS.  /   double  or  multiple. 

* 4tn  I 

• 5th  and  under.y 

t  g:  Clusters  and  Nebulae. 


CONSTELLATIONS  SOUTH  OF  THE  ZODIAC 


ORION. 

This  beautiful  constellation,  mentioned  by  Job  (ix,  9),  by  Homer  and  Hesiod,  is  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  oldest  of  the  heavens. 

Orion  was  a  mighty  giant  and  hunter,  the  subject  of  many  fables.  He  lost  his  sight  in 
attempting  to  carry  off  the  daughter  of  (Enopion,  but  he  regained  it  by  exposing  his  eyeballs 
to  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun;  he  was  afterward  loved  and  carried  off  by  Aurora;  this  made 
the  gods  angry,  and  Diana  killed  him.  According  to  others  Diana  herself  was  in  love  with 
him  and  killed  him  while  he  was  swimming,  mistaking  his  head  for  some  other  distant  object 
on  the  water,  which  was  pointed  out  to  her  by  Apollo,  who  was  indignant  at  his  sister's  love. 
According  to  another  story,  he  was  killed  by  a  scorpion. 


DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

-•    > 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

,    ^ 

\ 

TION. 

TUDE. 

K.  A.     If 

80     DKCL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O        / 

h.  m. 

0       / 

a  dbl. 

l.V.  org. 

5.49 

+  7.23 

16  h 

5.9 

5.03 

+  9.40 

ft  dbl. 

1.3 

5.  9 

—  8.20 

14  i,  bin. 

5.9 

5.  1 

+  8.20 

y  dbl. 

2.0 

5  19 

+  6.14 

74  7c 

5.8 

6.10 

+12.18 

6 

2.V. 

5.26 

—  0.23 

75  I 

6.0 

6.10 

+  9.59 

e  dbl. 

2.0 

5.30 

—  1.17 

23  m,  dbl. 

5.4 

5.17 

+  3.25 

<:  trip. 

2.0 

5.35 

—  2.  0 

33  ni,  dbl. 

6.0 

5.25 

+  3.12 

17  bin. 

3.5 

5.18 

—  2.30 

38  n2, 

5.8 

5.28 

+  3.41 

0  mult. 

4.8 

5.29 

—  5.28 

22  o,  dbl. 

5.1 

5.16 

—  0.30 

i  trip. 

3.0 

5.30 

—  5.59 

27  p 

5.6 

5.18 

—  1.01 

K 

2.8 

5.42 

—  9.43 

11 

5.0 

4.58 

+15.14 

A  trip. 

3.5 

5.29 

+  9.51 

15 

5.3 

5.  3 

+15.27 

M 

4.7 

5.56 

+  9.39 

31  dbl. 

5.1  org. 

5.24 

—  1.11 

V 

4.7 

6.   1 

+14.47 

52  dbl. 

5.7 

5.42 

+  6.26 

\ 

4.8 

6.  5 

+14.14 

56 

5.8 

5.46 

+  1.49 

ol 

5.7  org. 

4.46 

+14.  2 

60 

5.7 

5.53 

+  0.32 

o2 

5.0 

4.50 

+13.19 

5 

5.V.  org. 

4.47 

+  2.18 

n-1 

5.0 

4.48 

+  9.58 

9419  Lai. 

6.2 

4.54 

+  3.26 

7r2 

4.7 

4.44 

+  8.42 

9581  Lai. 

6.V. 

4.59 

+  1.   1 

7f3 

3.1 

4.43 

+  6.45 

10492  Lai. 

6.V. 

5.28 

+10.10 

H 

3.7 

4.45 

+  5.24 

10527  Lai.,  dbl 

5.3 

5.29 

-  6.05 

7r5 

3.7 

4.48 

+  2.15 

11382  Lai. 

5.2 

5.54 

—  3.  5 

776 

4.7 

4.52 

+  1.32 

12104  Lai. 

5.2 

6.14 

—  2.54 

p  dbl. 

5.1 

5.  7 

+  2.43 

2  700,  dbl. 

8.0 

5.17 

+  0.59 

o-  trip. 

4.2 

5.33 

—  2.40 

2  743,  dbl. 

7.0 

5.29 

—  4.30 

T  trip. 

4.4 

5.12 

-  6.58 

2  750,  dbl. 

6.0 

5.30 

—  4.27 

V 

5.1 

5.26 

—  7.24 

374.1 

5.0 

5.28 

+  9.24 

B 

8.V.  org. 

4.52 

+  7.57 

40*2 

4.5  yel. 

5.30 

+  9.14 

s 

8.V.  red 

5.23 

—  4.47 

54  x1 

4.7 

5.47 

+20.16 

8.0  very  red 

5.  4 

+  5.40 

62  x2 

5.0 

5.57 

+20.  8 

6.5  red 

4.59 

+  1.   1 

25  »//! 

5.4 

5.19 

+  1.44 

7.3  red 

6.  5 

+21.54 

30  ^2,  dbl 

.      5.0 

5.21 

+  2.59 

6.5  org. 

4.49 

+  7.35 

H 

5.0 

5.33 

+  4.  3 

6.7  org. 

5.  4 

—  0.43 

6.5  org. 

5.30 

+10.58 

32  A,  bin. 

(?)  4.8 

5.24 

+  5.51 

7.0  org. 

5.56 

—  5.  8 

51  b 

5.5  org. 

5.36 

+  1.25 

6.5  org. 

6.13 

+14.42 

32  f 

5.2 

5.29 

—  4.55 

6.5  org. 

6.19 

+14.47 

49  d 

5.2 

5.33 

—  7.17 

M.  42 

neb. 

5.29 

—  5.28 

29  e 

4.4 

5.18 

—  7.55 

H.  VII,  4 

cl 

5.  4 

+16.33 

69/1 

5.7 

6.  5 

+16.  9 

H.  V,  28 

neb. 

5.36 

—  1.55 

72/2 

5.7 

6.  8 

+16.10 

M.  78 

neb. 

5.41 

+  0.   1 

60 

6.0 

4.47 

+11.13 

H.  VIII,  24 

A 

6.  2 

+13  58 

ORION. 


NOTES. 

This  is  the  finest  and  richest  constellation  of  the  heavens,  containing  two  stars  of  the 
1st  magnitude,  four  of  the  2d  magnitude,  seven  of  the  3d  magnitude  and  twelve  of  the  4th 
magnitude. 

The  same  illusion  which  we  have  noticed  in  the  Pleiades  applies  to  the  three  stars 
A  (lambda),  <£i  (phii)  and  <£2  (ph&);  in  looking  at  this  triangle  nobody  would  think  that  the 
moon  could  be  inserted  in  it;  but,  as  the  distance  from  A  (lambda)  to  </>i  (p/iii)  is  27',  and  the 
distance  from  <£i  (phii)  to  </>2  (phiz)  33',  it  is  a  positive  fact. 

The  principal  stars  of  this  constellation  are  named:  a  (alpha)  Betelgeuse,  &  (beta) 
Rigel,  y  (gamma)  Bellatrix,  8  (delta)  Mintaka,  and  e  (epxilon)  Alnilam.  At  the  time  of  Bayer, 
Betelgeuse  was  brighter  than  Rigel,  now  it  is  the  contrary. 

0  (Alpha)— Double ;  magnitudes  1.5  and  9;  distance, 

2'  40";  yellow  and  blue.    Several  other  nearer 

stars  with  the  Lick  telescope.    Mr.  Elkin  tried 

the  parallax  of  this  nice  star,  in  1887-88,  and 

found  a  negative  one  (— 0".009±0".047). 
/3  (Beta)— Double ;   magnitudes  1.3  and  9;  distance, 

9".5;  difficult  pair  on  account  of  the  brilliancy 

of  Rigel;  the  companion  is  blue,  the  main  star 

is  very  white;  the  best  time  to  separate  them 

in  common  telescopes  is  by  moonlight  or  at 

twilight.    Rigel  has  another  companion  of  the 

14th  magnitude,  discovered  by  Mitchell,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, in  1846,  at  44"  distance;  Mr.  Burnham 

found  the  nearest  companion  double  at  the 

remarkably  short  distance  of  two-tenths  of  a 

second,  in  1878,  at  Chicago. 
(\i  Chi  i)— Double;  magnitudes  4.7  and  6;  distance, 

32'  ;  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 
\2  (Chi  2)— Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  6;  distance, 

28';  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 
22— Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  6.0;   distance,  4'; 

easy  pair  with  an  opera  glass. 

01  (Theta  i)  02  (Theta  2)— Magnitudes  5.0  and  5.5;  dis- 

tance, 2'  15";  are  visible  with  an  opera  glass. 

01  (Theta *)— Is  quadruple;  magnitudes  5-6-7  and  8; 

distances  from  9"  to  21";  splendid  in  common 
telescopes;  multiple  in  large  telescopes.  It  is 
also  known  as  the  Trapezium  of  Orion.  Fig. 
124  is  taken  from  Mr.  Burnham's  diagram  in 
monthly  notices  of  the  R.  A.  «.,  Vol.  XLIX., 
No.  6.  Mr.  Barnard  discovered  a  faint  star, 
indicated  by  a  small  cross,  which  Mr.  Burnham 
has  not  satisfactorily  seen. 

02  (Thetat)— Double;   magnitudes  5.5  and  6.5;   dis- 

tance, 52";  nice  pair. 


Fig.  124.— Trapezium  of  Orion. 
Scale,  1  inch-  16". 


Fig.  123.— Double  Star  Rigel  /3 


Fig.  125.— Double  Star  6 


Fig  126.— Double  Triple  Star  <r 
Scale,  200"=1  inch. 


ORION. 


i  (luta)— Triple;  magnitudes  S.O-S1/^  and  11;  distances,  11"  and  49";  6'  south  from  t  (iota)  there 
is  an  easy  pair;  magnitude  5.8  and  6.3;  distance,  36";  the  components  seem  to  be  varia- 
ble; Lalande  noted  the  flrst  one  of  the  7th  magnitude  and  the  other  of  the  8th  magni- 
tude ;  Struve  noted  them  5.6  and  6.5. 

&  (Delta)— Double ;  magnitudes  2.6  and  7;  distance,  53";  very  nice  pair. 

42— Double;  magnitudes  5.6  and  6;  distance,  5";  beautiful  field  with  small  power. 

23— Double;  magnitudes  5.4  and  7 ;  distance,  32";  white  and  blue ;  nice  pair. 

<r  (Sigma)— Triple;  magnitudes  4.2-8  and  7;  distances,  12"  and  42";  it  is  a  double  triple;  three 
other  small  stars  of  the  8th  and  9th  magnitude  appearing  in  the  field ;  beautiful  sight. 
Mr.  Burnham  discovered  in  1888  the  main  star  to  be  a  very  close  pair;  distance  onlyO".25. 

A  (Lambda)— Double;  magnitudes  3.5  and  6;  distance,  4".5;  another  small  companion  appears 
in  the  field. 

p  (Rho)— Double;  magnitudes  5.1  and  9;  distance,  6".8;  orange  and  blue ;  nice  pair. 

£  (Zeta)— Double ;  magnitudes  2.0  and  6.5;  distance,  2".5;  difficult  pair;  the  companion  is  quite 
dark;  Struve  called  it  "  Olivaceasubrubiconda  "  (reddish  olive). 

33— Double;  magnitudes  6.0  and  8.0;  distance,  2";  close  pair. 

52— Double;  magnitudes  5.7  and  6;  distance,  1".7;  close  pair. 

14— Binary;  magnitudes  6  and  7;  distance,  1"  in  1880;  close  pair,  in  rapid  orbital  motion;  rev- 
olution about  250  years. 

1  (Eta)— Double;  magnitudes  3.5  and  5;  distance,  1";  too  close  for  common  telescope. 

4>2(PM 2)— Double;  magnitudes  5.0  and  11;  distance,  2".8;  difficult  pair. 

32— Binary;  magnitudes  4.8  and  7;  distance,  in  1880,  0".4;  in  1780  the  distance  was  1".5;  very 
close  pair. 

31— Is  a  variable  from  4.7  to  7th  magnitude,  with  a  companion  of  the  llth  magnitude  at  13"; 
this  star  is  orange,  and  its  spectrum  indicates  a  sun  beginning  to  cool  off. 


Fig.  127.— Nebula  Messier  42- (From  a  direct  photograph  taken  by  Mr.  Common.) 


ORION  —  MONOCEKOS. 


M.  42— Is  the  finest  nebula  of  all  the  heavens.  Mr.  Bond  has  written  a  book  on  this  nebula 
alone ;  the  spectroscopical  observations  prove  that  it  is  composed  of  incandescent  gases, 
probably  hydrogen  and  nitrogen ;  Mr.  Bond  thought  that  it  was  composed  entirely  of  small 
stars,  but  it  is  not  so.  Mr.  Draper,  in  the  United  States,  and  Mr.  Common,  in  England, 
have  succeeded  in  photographing  it;  it  took  36  minutes  of  exposure;  a  star  of  the  1st 
magnitude  requires  only  one-hundredth  of  a  second  to  be  photographed.  Its  spectrum 
examination  indicates  that  it  is  traveling  at  the  rate  of  17  miles  per  second  from  us,  or  we 
from  it.  The  nebula  proper  covers  a  space  equal  to  the  apparent  size  of  the  moon,  but 
the  nebulosity  extends  a  great  deal  more ;  Secchi  followed  it  for  a  distance  of  4  degrees 
from  east  to  west,  and  5  degrees  from  north  to  south.  If  this  nebula  was  only  as  far 
from  us  as  61  of  Cygnus,  the  nearest  star  that  we  can  see  with  the  naked  eye  in  our  lati- 
tudes, it  would  be  at  least  three  trillions  of  miles  long,  and  a  fast  train  going  at  the  rate 
of  60  miles  an  hour  would  have  to  keep  going  for  more  than  5,650,000  years  to  traverse  it 
(Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  466).  The  stars  0  (theta)  are  in  the  center  of  the  nebula.  (Fig.  127.) 

H.  VII,  4— Is  a  fine  cluster  of  some  600  stars,  among  them  a  nice  pair  of  8th  and  9th  magni- 
tudes ;  distance  23"  (marked  on  our  planisphere  north  of  15). 

M.  78— Is  a  quadruple  nebula  9  minutes  long,  5  minutes  wide  (see  between  £  (zeta)  and  56). 

7r6  (Pi e)— Southeast  of  776  (pie)  there  are  five  or  six  red  stars;  some  of  them  very  red;  visible 
in  a  common  telescope. 


MONOCEROS. 


Monoceros,  or  the  Unicorn,  first  appears  on  the  planisphere  of  Bartschius,  in  1624,  but  it 
was  already  known  a  little  before,  and  mention  of  it  is  made  in  a  book  published  in  Frankfort 
in  1564,  under  the  name  of  Neper  (the  Forest).  In  the  Persian  sphere,  brought  up  by  Scaliger, 
this  fantastic  animal  is  also  found. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


30 

4.0 

11  trip. 

4.2 

26 

4.2 

5dbl. 

4.4  org. 

22 

4.5 

8dbl. 

4.7 

31 

4.9 

13 

5.0 

29  trip. 

5.0 

18 

5.2 

28 

5.3 

10  dbl. 

5.4  yel. 

17 

5.4 

12494  Lai. 

5.5 

20 

5.5 

19 

5.6 

3  dbl. 

5.6 

27 

5.6 

25 

5.7 

12587  Lai. 

5.7 

POSITION 

,  

.>  —  x 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

K. A.      IS 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

8.20 

—  3.31 

2 

5.7 

6.23 

—  6.57 

12176  Lai. 

5.8 

7.36 

—  9.16 

7 

5.9 

6.  9 

—  6.14 

T.  VII,  228 

6.0 

7.  6 

—  0.17 

12 

6.0 

6.17 

+  4.39 

P.  VI,  82 

6.5 

8.38 

—  6.49 

15  S,  trip. 

4.V. 

6.26 

+  7.26 

T 

6.V. 

8.  3 

—  2.38 

U 

6.V. 

6.42 

+  2.33 

W.  B669 

5.V. 

7.55 

—  1.  3 

* 

6.0  red 

6.22 

—  4.42 

* 

7.5  red 

6.41 

+  8.10 

* 

7.0  org. 

6.25 

+11.38 

* 

6.0  org. 

7.  4 

—  4.  3 

H.  VII,  2 

cl 

6.57 

—  4.  4 

H.  IV.  2 

neb. 

5.56 

—10.36 

H.  VII,  35 

cl. 

7.54 

—  3.21 

M.  50 

cl. 

7.31 

—  3.50 

H.  VI,  22 

cl. 

6.28 

+  7.40 

H.  VI,  27 

cl. 

K.  A. 

h.  m. 
5.53 
6.16 
6.14 
7.45 
6.26 
6.17 
6.34 
6.19 
7.25 
7.23 
6.36 
7.37 
6.24 
7.23 
6.26 
6.33 
6.21 
6.57 
8.  7 
6.46 


>     DECL. 

O         / 

—  9.34 
—11.43 

—  7.46 

—  8.51 
+  4.57 
+  3.49 
+10.  0 
+  7.  9 

—  9.32 

—  1.39 

—  9.  3 
—10.36 

—  2.57 
—10.  5 
+  4.57 
+  8.52 
+12.42 

—  8.10 

—  5.26 
+  0.36 


NOTES. 

11— Triple;  magnitudes  5-5.5  and  6;  distances,  1"  and  2".5;  the  companions  are  only  2".5  a  part. 

8— Double;  magnitudes  4.7  and  7.5;  distance,  14";  nice  pair;  yellow  and  bluish.  The  magni- 
tudes of  this  pair  have  been  noted  by  Lalande,  in  January,  1794,  Gl/2  and  7;  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1797,  4  and  81A;  by  Piazzi,  of  5'/2  and  8;  by  Struve,  in  1822,  of  4.5  and  7;  in  1831,  of  4 
and  6.7 ;  they  must  be  variable  stars. 


MONOCEROS-CANIS  MINOR. 


Fig.  128.— Triple  Star  11. 


Fig.  129,-Nebula  H.  IV,  2. 


15  S.— Varies  irregularly  from  the  4th  to  6th  magnitude  in  a  very  short  period  of  3  or  4  days, 
not  well  determined;  it  is  also  double,  which  is  very  rare  for  a  variable;  magnitudes  5 
and  10;  distance,  3";  orange  and  blue;  there  is  another  companion  of  13th  magnitude 
16"  apart,  and  still  another  smaller;  nice  field  for  small  telescope. 

29— Triple;  magnitudes  5.0-11  and  9;  distances,  30"  and  67";  the  second  one  is  difficult  to  be 
seen,  and  seems  to  vary  from  the  10th  to  12th  magnitude. 

R.— Between  13  and  15 ;  varies  from  the  9th  to  the  13th  magnitude ;  too  small  for  common  tele- 
scope. 

T.— Varies  from  6.2  to  7.6  in  27  days. 

U. — Ten  minutes  west  of  26;  varies  from  6.2  to  7.6  in  46  days. 

H.  VII,  2— Is  a  little  "  amas  "  with  the  reddish  star  12  of  6th  magnitude  in  the  center  (see 
below  13). 

H.  IV,  2— Is  a  triangular  nebula  like  the  tail  of  a  comet  (see  near  15). 

M.  50— On  a  line  between  Sirius  and  Procyon  there  is  an  "  amas  "  in  which  can  be  seen  a  nice 
little  pair  and  a  red  star. 

II.  VI,  22— South  of  29  is  a  cluster  of  some  fifteen  stars  of  the  9th  magnitude,  almost  visible 
to  the  naked  eye. 
This  constellation  traversed  by  the  Milky  Way  is  very  interesting. 


CANIS    MINOR. 


Canis  Minor,  the  Little  Dog,  is  also  a  very  old  constellation;  Procyon 
is  already  mentioned  by  Eudoxus. 

,  its  brightest  star, 

POSITION 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

R.  A.     18 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1* 

80     DECL. 

h,  m. 

0        1 

h.  m. 

O        / 

a  (Procyon) 

1.4 

7.33 

+  5.32 

6 

4.8 

7.23 

+12.15 

0  trip. 

3.0 

7.21 

8.32 

11 

5.5 

7.40 

11.  5 

y 

5.2 

7.22 

9.10 

P.  VII,  289 

4.7 

7.56 

2.50 

Si 

5.8 

7.26 

2.11 

P.  VII,  249 

6.4 

7.49 

9.11 

52 

6.2 

7.27 

3.33 

2  1126  dbl. 

7.0 

7.35 

5.34 

6 

5.4 

7.19 

9.31 

R 

7.V.  red 

7.  2" 

10.13 

£ 

5.4 

7.45 

2.  4 

S 

7.V.  red 

7.26 

8.34 

r, 

5.9 

7.22 

7.11 

# 

7.1  red 

7.37 

5.14 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Procyon— Is  a  star  in  rapid  proper  motion;  1".27  S.  W.  per  year;  21  minutes  in 
1,000  years.    If  it  keeps  going  in  the  same  direction  and  at  the  same  rate  it  will  cross 
the  equator  12,000  years  from  now  and  will  be  part  of  the  Southern  Hemisphere. 
Auwers,  in  1861-62,  found  for  the  parallax  of  Procyon.. 0".240±0".029 

Wagner,  in  1863-83 0".299±0/.038 

Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  in  1887-88 0".266±0".047 


72 


CANIS  MINOR  — CANIS  MAJOR. 


Taking  for  the  average  <X'.27,  it  would  be  761,000  times  more  distant  than  the  earth  is 
from  the  sun,  or  70  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  12  years  to  teach 
us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  450).  The  motion  of  Procyon  is  not  regular  and  does  not  follow  a 
straight  line.  Mr.  Auwers'  observations  tend  to  prove  that  there  is  a  star  near  by,  forming 


Fig.  130.— Multiple  Star  Procyon. 

a  binary  system  and  revolving  around  their  center  of  gravity  in  about  40  years.     Similar 
perturbations  were  noticed  for  Sirius  by  Bessel,  and  its  companion  was  seen  18  years  after- 
ward.   (See  Canis  Major  notes.) 
0  (Beta)  Gomeisa—Is  a  triple  star. 
2  1126— Binary;  magnitudes  7.0  and  7.3;  distance,  1".6;  very  close  pair;  near  Procyon. 


Canis  Major,  the 
dogs  in  pursuit  of  the 


CANIS    MAJOR. 

Greater  Dog,  is  spoken  of  in  Homer  and  Hesiod ;  it  is  one  of  Orion's 
Hare. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


a  (Sirius)  bin.   1.0 
/3  2.2 

y  4.5 

6  dbl.  2.1 

e  (Adara)dbl.  1.9 


£  dbl. 
r,  dbl. 


bin.  (?) 
vi  dbl. 


16  oi 
24  o2 

10  dbl. 

11  trip. 


3.2 
2.9 

4.4  red 
4.9 
4.0 

4.7 

5.5  red 
6.4 

4.2 

4.9 

4.5 

4.8 

3.9  red 

3.4 

5.7 
5.5 


POSITION 

POSITION 

t  

_A  . 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

f   

A  s 

R.  A.      » 

80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.      1 

889     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

h.  m. 

0       1 

6.40 

—16.33 

15 

5.3 

6.48 

—20.  4 

6.17 

17.54 

19  dbl. 

4.9 

6.50 

19.59 

6.58 

15.27 

22 

3.6  red 

6.57 

27.46 

7.   4 

26.12 

27 

Var. 

7.  9 

26.  9 

6.54 

28.49 

28    - 

4.2 

7.10 

26.34 

6.16 

30.   1 

29 

5.6 

7.14 

24.20 

7.19 

29.  4 

30  dbl. 

4.6 

7.14 

24.44 

6.49 

11.53 

11985  Lai. 

5.5 

6.10 

13.41 

6.51 

16.54 

12541  Lai. 

5.6 

6.26 

12.18 

6.45 

32.22 

2147  B.A.C. 

6.0 

6  29 

31.56 

6.24 

32.30 

2162  B.A.C. 

5.7 

6.30 

32.37 

6.51 

13.53 

12825  Lai. 

5.3 

6.34 

14.  2 

6.31 

18.34 

2291  B.A.C. 

6.0 

6.54 

25.15 

6.31 

19.  9 

12278  Lai. 

5.6 

6.19 

11.28 

6.33 

18.  8 

13059  Lai. 

5.7 

6.40 

14.40 

6.27 

23.20 

14200  Lai. 

5.3 

7.12 

23.  6 

6.30 

22.52 

2244  B.A.C. 

7.0 

6.45 

27.12 

6.49 

24.  2 

* 

8.1  very  red 

6.19 

26.59 

6.58 

23.39 

* 

7.5  red 

7.  2 

—11.44 

M.  41 

cl 

6.42 

20.37 

6.40 

30.57 

H.  VII,  12 

cl. 

7.12 

15.25 

6.41 

—14.18 

H.  VII,  17 

cl. 

7.14 

24.44 

CANIS  MAJOK. 


73 


Fig.  131.— Sirius  and  its  companion, 
in  1880. 


NOTES. 

Sirius,  the  Dog  Star— Is  the  brightest  white  star  of  the  heavens;  3,285  years  B.  C.  Sirius  was 
rising  at  the  solstice  of  summer;  its  apparition  was  the  signal  of  the  Nile's  inundation 
and  regulated  the  Egyptian  calendar,  hence  its  name  Dog  Star.  Most  of  the  astron- 
omers believed  from  "doubtful  citations"  that  the  color  of  Sirius  has  changed,  and 
was  red  about  2,000  years  ago;  this  opinion  has  been  discussed  by  M.  Flammarion 
in  his  work  "  Les  Etoiles,"  pages  477  to  479,  and 
he  came  to  the  conclusion  that "  it  is  possible  " 
but  "far  from  certain."  The  stars  seen 
through  the  telescopes  do  not  show  any 
diameter;  the  stronger  the  power  the  smaller 
is  the  appearance  of  the  star;  the  instrument 
only  amplifies  their  brightness.  When  Sirius 
enters  the  field  of  the  telescope  it  has  the 
appearance  of  a  strong,  sudden  flash  of  light. 
Mr.  Wallaston  after  many  experiments  de- 
clared that  the  diameter  of  Sirius  is  not  one- 
fiftieth  of  a  second ;  if  it  is  only  that  diameter 
it  represents  17,000,000  of  miles;  about  20  times 
the  diameter  of  the  sun,  and  7,000  times  its 
volume.  Seen  from  Sirius  the  sun  would  be 
a  star  of  the  6th  magnitude  only.  The  light 
of  Sirius  is  so  strong  that  it  can  be  seen  in 
daytime  (when  you  know  its  position)  with  a 
small  telescope.  This  beautiful  star  is  moving  toward  £  (zetd)  near  the  constellation 
of  Columba,  and  will  be  close  to  it  in  40,000  years ;  it  comes  from  the  same  region  that 
the  sun  itself  occupied  many  thousand  years  ago,  and  they  are  now  going  in  oppo- 
site directions  from  each  other.  This  motion  is  not  uniform  and  does  not  follow  a 
straight  line;  its  position  is  sometimes  east,  sometimes  west,  of  the  general  direction. 
The  period  is  49  years;  in  1843  Sirius  was  0".152  west  of  the  line  and  in  1867  it  was  0".152 
east  of  it.  In  1844,  Bessel  suggested  that  these  perturbations  were  most  likely  produced 
by  a  satellite  of  Sii-ius;  in  1851  Peters  calculated  the  orbit  that  would  answer  the 
question,  and  11  years  afterward,  the  son  of  Alvan  Clark,  then  14  years  old,  in  looking 
through  the  telescope  which  his  father  was  making  for  the  Dearborn  University 
of  Chicago,  »aw  it  and  said:  "Father,  Sirius  has  a  companion."  Its  position  was 
found  to  be  where  the  theoretical  orbit  of  Peters  would  have  it.  Bessel  has  been 
dead  since  1846,  16  years  before  the  above  discovery  was  made.  Since  then  the  com- 
panion of  Sirius  has  been  observed  many  times,  but  it  is  only  visible  in  large  telescopes 
and  when  the  atmosphere  is  pure.  Mr.  Burnham  has  tried  to  see  it  in  1891,  under  very 
favorable  circumstances,  and  has  failed  to  see  the  least  trace  of  it.  The  distance,  in 
1880,  was  10"  and,  in  1890, 4".l9.  This  celebrated  observer  has  also  drawn  the  orbit  of 
the  companion  from  a  complete  series  of  measures,  and  this  ellipse  gives  a  period  of  53 
years.  In  comparing  the  observations  some  other  perturbations  have  been  noticed, 
which  would  indicate  the  presence  of  another  companion.  We  give  here  the  parallax 
of  Sirius  obtained  at  different  times : 

OBSERVERS.  PARALLAX. 

Henderson,  1832-33 0".340±0".25 

Abbe,  1866 0".270±0".10 


Gylden,  from  Maclear's  obser-  •  Qg 

vations.  1836-37... ,  ..  ' 


PARALLAX. 


0".430±0".099 


OBSERVERS. 

Belopolsky,   1888,   from  Wag-  ( 
ner's  observations,  1862-70.. 

Gill,  1881-83 0".370±0".009 

Elkin,  1881-83 0".407±0".018 

Elkin,  1888 0".266±0".047 


In  taking  the  average,  or  0".33,  it  would  represent  625,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth 
from  the  sun,  or  58  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  over  9  years  and  10 
months  to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  444). 

The  spectrum  of  Sirius  (Fig.  I,  page  viii)  indicates  a  high  temperature ;  its  photosphere 
is  composed  of  hydrogen,  in  which  are  found  in  dissociation  the  vapors  of  iron,  magnesium, 
sodium,  etc.;  the  lines  of  hydrogen  are  very  prominent  and  the  lines  of  the  other  metals 
quite  feeble.  From  phometrical  observations  the  diameter  of  Sirius  would  be  12  times  larger 
than  the  diameter  of  the  sun,  its  surface  144  times,  and  its  volume  1728  times  (Flam.,  Les 
Etoiles,  page  484). 


74 


CANIS  MAJOR. 


" 


Fig.  132.— Orbit  of  Sirius.    (From  a  diagram  by  Mr.  Burnham). 


Mr.  Burnham  said:  "If  this  ellipse  is  correct  the  minimum  distance  will  be  2" A  in 
1892.5,  and  about  the  end  of  1894  the  distance  will  be  the  same  as  at  the  time  of  my  last 
measures.  At  that  time,  therefore,  I  trust  the  large  telescope  will  supply  observations  which 
will  definitely  settle  most  of  the  uncertainties  in  the  orbit  of  this  interesting  system." 
(Lick  Observatory,  February  26, 1891). 

]8  (Beta)— Also  called  Mirzam ;  has  a  little  companion  of  9th  magnitude  at  105" ;  difficult. 
6  (Delta)— Double ;  magnitudes  2.1  and  7.5;  distance,  2'  45";  visible  with  an  opera  glass. 
£  (Zeta)— Double;  magnitudes  3.2  and  7;  distance,  2'  47";  visible  with  an  opera  glass. 
30— Double;  magnitudes  4.6  and  9;  distance,  1' 25";  nice  field. 
M  (Mu)—  Double;  magnitudes  5.5  and  9 ;  distance,  3". 
i/i  (Nui)—  Double;  magnitudes  6.4  and  8 ;  distance,  17";  easy  pair. 

17— Quadruple;  magnitudes  6-9-10  and  11 ;  distances,  45",  52"  and  125";  interesting  group, 
oi  (Omicroni)— Double;  magnitudes  3.4  and  8;   distance,  30";   the  main  star  is  orange  and 

somewhat  variable. 

22— Is  a  very  red  star ;  it  was  noted  of  4th  mag- 
nitude by  Hevelius  in  16CO;  Maraldi,  in 

1670,  did  not  see  it,  but  in  1692  and  1693 

noted  it  of  the  4th  magnitude;  Lalande 

did  not  observe  it  at  all ;  it  varies  probably 

from  the  3d  to  the  6th  magnitude. 
38— Also  seems  to  vary  from  the  4V£th  to  the 

7th  magnitude. 

M.  41— Near  15  is  a  nice  cluster,  sometimes  vis- 
ible to  the  naked  eye,  composed  of  92 

stars  of  the  8th  to  the  12th  magnitude; 

easily  seen  in  common  telescopes;  near 

the  center  is  a  red  star  brighter  than  the 

others.  Fig.  133.— Cluster  Messier  41. 

II.  VII,  12— East  of  y  (gamma)  is  another  rich  cluster,  composed  mostly  of  stars  of  the  loth 

magnitude. 


SEXTANS -HYDRA. 


SEXTANS. 

Sextans  Uranioe,  or  the  Sextant,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Hevelius  in  1690. 

POSITION                                                                                                        POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

f   

-*         '      s 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

  •  —            - 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.      1 

*80     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0        / 

h,  m. 

0       / 

1 

5.4 

9.31 

+  7.22 

30 

5.2 

10.24 

—  0.59 

2 

5.2 

9.32 

+  5.11 

31 

7.0 

10.24 

+  2.46 

8  bin. 

5.4 

9.47 

—  7.32 

35  dbl. 

6.2 

10.37 

+  5.23 

12 

6.8 

9.53 

+  3.57 

37 

6.0 

10.40 

+  7.  0 

15 

4.7 

10.  2 

+  0.13 

41  dbl. 

6.0 

10.44 

—  8.16 

18 

6.0  red 

10.  5 

—  7.49 

19662  Lai. 

6.3 

9.58 

—  8.59 

19 

6.2 

10.  7 

+  5.12 

19823  Lai. 

8.0 

10.  5 

—  1.3 

27 

6.8 

10.21 

—  3.46 

H.  I,  3-4 

neb. 

10.  8 

+  4.  4 

29 

5.4 

10.23 

—  2.  7 

H.  I,  163 

neb. 

9.59 

—  7.  8 

NOTES. 

8— Binary;  magnitudes  5.6 and  6.5 ;  distance,  0".5;  very  close  pair ;  revolution,  33  years. 
35— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  8;  distance,  7";  yellow  and  blue;  very  nice  pair. 
H.  I,  3— Is  a  double  nebula  north  of  15. 

H.  1, 163— Elliptical  nebula  35"  wide,  150"  long;  in  the  center  is  a  star  of  the  10th  magnitude; 
it  is  between  18  and  19662.  

HYDRA. 

Hydra,  or  the  Sea  Serpent,  is  the  famous  hundred-headed  monster  killed  by  Hercules 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Lerna. 

On  the  Hydra  can  be  seen  a  "cup"  and  a  "crow."  According  to  Greek  mythology, 
Apollo  sent  the  crow  with  a  cup  to  bring  some  water  for  a  sacrifice  to  Jupiter,  but  the  crow 
came  across  a  fig  tree  and  waited  for  the  figs  to  become  ripe ;  as  he  was  afraid  he  would  be 
reprimanded  for  his  delay,  he  blamed  the  Hydra  for  it;  Apollo  punished  him  by  turning 
his  plumage,  which  was  white,  into  black,  and  placing  him  and  the  cup  on  the  back  of  the 
Sea  Serpent  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  528).  They  appear  already  in  Eudoxus'  time. 


DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B".  A.      18 

80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       / 

h.  m. 

O      / 

a  dbl. 

2.V.  org. 

9.22 

—  8.  8 

1 

6.2 

8.19 

—  3.22 

/3dbl. 

4.5 

11.47 

—33.14 

2 

6.5 

8.20 

—  3.36 

Y 

3.3  org. 

13.12 

—22.32 

12 

4.4 

8.41 

-13.  7 

8  dbl. 

4.1 

8.31 

+  6.  9 

14 

5.8 

8.43 

—  2.60 

ebin. 

3.5 

8.40 

+  6.51 

24 

6.0 

9.11 

—  8.14 

<; 

3.1 

8.49 

+  6.24 

25 

7.5 

9.14 

-11.28 

*? 

4.5 

8.37 

•f  3.49 

26 

5.4 

9.14 

—11.28 

0dbl. 

3.8 

9.  8 

+  2.49 

27 

5.5 

9.15 

—  9.  3 

t 

4.0  red 

9.34 

—  0.36 

51  dbl. 

5.0 

14.16 

—27.12 

K 

5.3 

9.35 

—13.47 

52 

4.7 

14.21 

—28.57 

\ 

3.4 

10.  5 

—11.45 

54  dbl. 

5.2  red 

14.39 

—24.56 

Mdbl. 

4.0  yel. 

10.20 

—16.13 

58 

4.8 

14.43 

—27.28 

V 

3.2 

10.44 

—15.34 

18639  Lai. 

5.2 

9.22 

—21.49 

fdbl. 

3.8 

11.27 

—31.12 

19034  Lai. 

5.3 

9.36 

—23.  2 

0 

5.0 

11.34 

—34.  5 

19093  Lai. 

5.5 

9.37 

—23.23 

7T 

3.6  yel. 

14.  0 

—26.  6 

20556  Lai. 

5.V.  red 

10.32 

—12.45 

P 

4.8 

8.42 

+  6.17 

P.  VIII,  167 

5.6 

8.41 

—  1.27 

<T 

5.0 

8.32 

+  3.48 

P.  X.256 

5.7 

11.  3 

—27.25 

31  rl  dbl. 

4.8 

9.23 

—  2.14 

P.  XI.  96  dbl. 

5.2 

11.26 

—28.36 

32  r2 

4.8 

9.26 

—  0.39 

P.VIII,108  dbl 

6.0 

8.30 

+  7.  3 

39  wl 

4.1 

9.46 

—14.17 

R 

4.V.  red 

13.23 

—22.40 

40  v2 

4.5 

9.59 

—12.29 

S 

8.V.  org. 

8.47 

+  3.31 

<J> 

5.0 

10.33 

—16.15 

T 

7.V.  red 

8.50 

—  8.41 

X 

4.8 

10.59 

—26.38 

* 

6.0  red  . 

10.46 

—20.36 

* 

5.4 

13.  3 

—22.28 

* 

7.0  red 

13.42 

—27.46 

M 

5.5 

9.  0 

-f  5.35 

* 

6.5  org. 

9.46 

—22.27 

* 

7.5  org. 

9.14 

+  0.41 

33  A 

6.0 

9.29 

—  5.22 

H.  IV,  27 

neb. 

10.19 

—18.  2 

/>! 

5.8 

10.41 

—16.40 

M.  68 

cl. 

12.33 

—26.  5 

Z>2 

5.5 

10.45 

—17.41 

HYDK  A- CRATER. 


NOTES. 
a  (Alpha)—  Also  called  Alphard  from  the  Arab  Al-fard  (the  solitary),  now  orange;  was  noted 

red  by  Sufl;  the  Chinese  called  it  "the  red  bird;"  it  seems  to  vary  from  the  1st  to  2d 

magnitude,  and  has  most  likely  changed  its  color;  it  is  also  double.    It  was  observed  as 

passing  the  meridian  at  sunset  the  day  of  the  vernal  equinox  during  the  time  of  the 

Chinese  Emperor  Yao,  about  2,350  years  before  Christ;  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  astronom- 

ical observations  (Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  530). 
e(EpsiUm)—  Binary;  magnitudes  3.5,and  7.5;  distance,  in  1880,  3".5  ;  beautiful  pair  ;  yellow  and 

blue  ;  revolution  about  7€0  years.    Schiaparelli  finds  the  large  star  a  close  pair  ;  distance, 

0".2;  the  close  pair  is  in  rapid  orbital  motion. 

54—  Double;  magnitudes  5.2  and  8;  distance,  9";  elegant  pair;  yellow  and  violet. 
T  (Taw)—  Double;  magnitudes  4.8  and  8;  distance,  65";  very  easy  pair. 
P.  XI,  96—  Double;  magnitudes  5.2  and  6.5;  distance,  10";  bright  pair. 
P.  VIII,  108—  Double;  magnitudes  6  and  7;  distance,  10";  nice  pair  in  a  fine  field. 
H.  IV,  27—  South  of  /u.  (mu)  is  a  curious 

nebula  said  by  Admiral  Smyth 

to  look  like  Jupiter  for  its  size, 

its  light  and  its  color;    in  its 

center  shines  a  nice  little  star, 

and,  besides,  four  little  stars 

appear  in  the  field;  the  spec- 

troscopical    analysis    indicates 

that  it  is  entirely  gaseous. 
M.  68—  South  of  /3  (beta)  of  Corvus 

is  a  cluster  4'  long  by  3'  wide; 

quite  pale;  between  two  little 

stars. 
R.—  -There  are  several  variables  in 

this   constellation;    the   princi- 

pal one  is  R,  which  varies  from 

the  4th  to  the  10th  magnitude  in 

a  period  growing  shorter  every 

year;  the  results  of  its  observa- 

tions are  very  interesting.  Heve- 

lius,  at  Dantzic,  saw  it  of  6th 

magnitude  in  1662;   Montanari, 

at  Bologna,  saw  it  of  4th  magni- 


««. 


.  IV,  ,7  and  Companion, 


lowed  it  until  1712  ;  after  that  it  was  lost  and  nearly  forgotten,  but  Pigott,  at  York,  observed 
it  again  in  1784;  in  the  19th  century  Argelander  and  Schmidt  paid  special  attention  to 
it  ;  comparing  the  different  observations  it  seems  that  the  period  of  variability  diminished 
from  9  to  10  hours  for  every  revolution  ;  it  was  547  days  in  1680,  487  days  in  1780,  432  days  in 
1880.  What  will  it  be  in  1980  ?  The  other  variables  are  too  small  for  common  telescopes. 


CRATER. 

Crater,  or  the  Cup,  is  one  of  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the  ancient  Greeks.    (See 
Hydra.) 

POSITION 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


mult. 


y  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.4 

4.6 
4.2 
3.5 
5.5 
5.2 
5.4 
5.0 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

B.A.    UK 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

10.54 

—17.40 

1 

5.8 

11.  6 

22.10 

K 

6.1 

11.19 

17.  2 

A 

5.4 

11.13 

14.  7 

31 

5.5 

11.19 

10.12 

21203  Lai. 

5.7 

11.39 

17.41 

R 

8.V.  red 

11.50 

16.29 

* 

G.O  org. 

11.31 

9.  8 

B.  A.     1880 

h.  m. 
11.38 
11.21 
11.17 
11.65 
10.57 
10.55 
10.53 


DECL. 

—12.33 
11.42 

18.  7 

19.  0 
10.39 
17.41 
15.42 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)— Also  called  Alkes,  has  several  small  companions ;  outside  of  the  variable  R  there 

is  nothing  worth  mentioning  in  this  small  constellation. 
B.— Very  near  a  (alpha)  is  a  star  of  a  fiery  red,  varying  from  the  8th  to  the  10th  magnitude  in 

periods  alternatively  of  72  days  and  88  days. 


CORVUS-PISCIS  NOTIUS-APPARATUS  SCULPTORJS. 


CORVUS. 

Corvus,  or  the  Crow,  is  a  very  old  constellation.    (See  Hydra.) 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


ft  Clbl. 

y 
6  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.2  red 
2.6  red 
2.V. 
3.V. 

3.3  yel. 
5.2 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
12.  2 
12.28 
12.10 
12.24 
12.  4 
12.14 


l     DECL. 

o     / 

-24.  4 
22.44 
16.52 
15.51 
21.57 
21.33 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


r?  4.5 

P.  XII,  54    5.6 
23675  Lai.  dbl.  5.8 
23726  Lai.   7.5 
2  1664  dbl.   7.5  red 
R        7.V.  red 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
12.26 
12.15 
12.35 
12.37 
12.32 
12.13 


»  DECL. 
o  / 

—15.32 
12.54 
12.21 
13.12 


18.35 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)— Also  called  Alchiba,  is  not  the  brightest  star  of  this  constellation ;  it  is  y  (gamma), 
which  is  now  of  the  2d  magnitude,  and  noted  only  of  4th  by  Bayer  in  J 603;  at  his  time 
a  (alpha),  ft  (beta),  y  (gamma)  and  5  (delta)  Algores  were  all  of  the  4th  magnitude;  Alpha 
is  now  the  5th  in  brilliancy,  as  our  catalogue  and  planisphere  plainly  show;  a  (alpha) 
and  ft  (beta)  are  red. 

S  (Delta)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.0  and  9 ;  distance,  24" ;  the  companion  is  quite  dark  and  difficult. 

23675— Double ;  magnitudes  6.4  and  6.5;  distance,  5".8;  nice  pair. 

R.— 2°  S.  E.  of  y  (gamma) ;  varies  from  the  7th  to  12th  magnitude  in  318  days. 


PISCIS    NOTIUS. 

Piscis  Notius,  or  the  Southern  Fish    is  one  of  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the 
ancients,  and  appeared  already  on  the  sphere  of  Eudoxus. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a 

ft  dbl. 
y  dbl. 
5  dbl. 


r,  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


1.7 

4.4 

4.6 

4.4  red 

4.3 

6.7 

5.7 


POSITION 

,  

-v  % 

DESIGNA- 

MAG 

B.  A.      IK 

0     DECL. 

TION. 

TUI 

h.  m. 

O      / 

22.51 

—30.15 

«  dbl. 

5.2 

22.25 

32.58 

l 

4.4 

22.46 

33.31 

A 

5.6 

22.49 

33.11 

M 

4.7 

22.34 

27.40 

P.  XXI,  46 

4.9 

22.24 

26.41 

9350  Lac. 

5.3 

21.54 

29.  2 

9352  Lac. 

7.5 

B.  A. 

h.  m. 
21.41 
21.38 
22.  7 
22.  1 
21.11 
22.57 
22.57 


)     DECL. 
o      / 

—31.27 
33.34 
28.21 
33.34 
32.40 
35.24 
36.27 


NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)  Fomalhaut—Is  the  brightest  star  of  this  constellation. 

K.  (Kappa)— Noted  by  Bayer ;  does  not  exist. 

9352  Lac.— Is  a  small  star  of  the  71/ith  magnitude;  in  rapid  motion;  6".96  for  one  year;  the 
greatest  after  1830  Groombridge  (see  our  Notes  of  Ursa  Major) ;  motion  discovered  by 
Prof.  Gould,  at  Cordoba,  Argentine  Republic,  in  1880-1.  Mr.  Gill,  in  1883,  gave  for  its 
parallax  0".285±0".020;  if  correct,  it  is  one  of  the  nearest  stars  to  us,  711,000  times  the 
distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  65  trillions  of  miles;  time  for  the  light  to  reach  us 
is  11  years  and  88  days. 


APPARATUS    SCULPTORIS. 

Apparatus  Sculptoris,  or  the  Sculptor's  Shop,  is  a  constellation,  first  introduced  by 
Lacaille  in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  P.  O,  250 
ft  9513  Lac. 
y  P.  XXIII,  3 
S  P.  XXIII, 

192  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

4.2 
6.7 

4.4 

4.6 


C,  P.  XXIII,  259  5.2 
«i  9741  Lac.        5.5 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

B.A.    1 

380     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

O      ' 

0.53 

—30.  0 

«2  P.  0,  6 

5.2 

23.26 

26.24 

H  P.  0,  79 

5.2 

23.12 

33.11 

«  P.  1,  168  dbl. 

5.4 

158  Lai. 

5.4 

23.43 

28.48        P.  0,111  dbl. 

6.5 

23.56 

30.23 

* 

6.0  red 

0.  3 

28.39 

* 

6.0  org. 

B.  A. 

h.  m. 
0.  5 
0.22 
1.40 
0.  8 
0.28 

23.51 
1.21 


I     DECL. 

O       / 

—28.28 
33.40 
25.39 
8.30 
35.39 
27.18 
33.10 


NOTE. 

This  constellation,  entirely  visible  from  our  latitude,  contains  only  three  stars  above  the 
5th  magnitude. 


CETUS. 


CETUS. 

Cetus,  or  the  Sea  Monster,  is  mentioned  by  Eudoxus,  Aratus,  Hipparchus  and  Ptolemy, 
who  called  it  "Ketos"(the  Whale);  Hyginus  named  it"Orphos,"a  fish  quite  different  to 
the  whale;  according  to  others,  it  is  the  sea  monster  sent  by  Neptune  to  ravage  the  shores  of 
Ethiopia  and  kill  Andromeda. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 

/3  dbl. 
y  dbl. 

,5 

£  dbl. 
r,  dbl. 


dbl. 


dbl. 


db,l. 


V 

17  </>l 
19  <J>2 

22  <f>3 

23  & 
x  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

2.4  org. 
2.2  yel. 
3.2 

4.0 
4.5 
3.5 

3.5  org. 
3.2 

3.5  yel. 

5.1 

6.2 

4.7 

4.2 

5.0 

4.3 

4.2 

2.V. 

4.0 

4.6 

4.7 

3.4 

4.0 

5.1 

5.5 

5.7 

5.9 

4.8 


R.  A. 

1880     DECL.               TION. 

TUDE. 

h.  m. 

O        /      • 

2.56 

+  3.37 

2 

4.3 

0.38 

—18.39 

3 

5.2 

2.37 

+  2.44 

6 

5.1 

2.34 

—  0.11 

72  Lai. 

5.4 

2.34 

-12.23 

7 

4.3 

1.46 

—10.55 

P.  O.  91 

5.2 

1.  3 

—10.49 

12  trip. 

6.0 

1.18 

—  8.48 

13 

6.0 

0.13 

—  9.31 

20 

5.2 

3.13 

+  2.55 

37  qdl. 

5.3 

3.15 

+  3.14 

42  bin. 

6.0 

2.53 

+  8.25 

46 

5.1 

2.38 

+  9.36 

48 

5.3 

2.30 

+  5.  4 

3159  Lai. 

5.2 

2.  7 

+  8.17 

56 

5.0 

2.22 

+  7.55 

61  qdl. 

6.5 

2.13 

-  3.31 

66  dbl. 

6.0 

2.38 

—14.22 

94  dbl. 

5.3 

2.20 

—12.50 

2  101,  dbl. 

8.0 

2.26 

—15.46 

2  106,  dbl. 

8.5 

1.39 

—16.34 

2  147,  dbl. 

6.0 

1.54 

—21.40 

2  218,  dbl. 

7.0 

0.38 

—11.15 

S 

7.V.  org. 

0.44 

-11.17 

R 

8.V.  org. 

0.50 

—11.55 

2598  Lai. 

6.V. 

0.53 

—12.   1 

1.44 

—11.17 

I.  A. 

1880     DECL,. 

.  m. 

0       / 

3.58 

—18.  0 

3.58 

—11.11 

D.  5 

—16.  7 

0.  6 

—18.36 

9.  9 

—19.36 

9.24 

—24.27 

0.24 

—  4.37 

0.29 

—  4.15 

0.47 

—  1.47 

.  8 

—  8.34 

.14 

-  1.   8 

.20 

—15.13 

.24 

—22.15 

.37 

—  4.19 

.51 

—23.  7 

.58 

—  0.55 

.  7 

—  2.58 

.  7 

-  1.39 

.  8 

—  8.17 

.10 

—  7.48 

.34 

—11.54 

2.  3 

-  1.   1 

0.18 

—10.  0 

2.20 

—  0.43 

1.20 

—  4.35 

NOTES. 

a  (Alpha)— Is  also  called  Menkar,  /3  (beta)  Diphda,  and  £  (zeta)  Baten  Kaitos. 

o  (Omicron)  or  Mira—ls  a  famous  variable;  the  first  noticed  by  David  Fabricius,  in  August, 
1596;  the  6th  of  November,  1779,  Mira  was  nearly  as  bright  as  Aldebaran;  sometimes  it 
comes  up  to  the  1st  magnitude  and  sometimes  it  stops  at  the  4th  magnitude ;  in  a  period 
of  about  166  days  it  came  down  below  the  9th  magnitude ;  the  time  of  the  variability 
seems  to  be  331  days  8  hours  and  4  minutes.  At  each  period  it  remains  about  5  months 
invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  its  magnitude  being  lower  than  the  6th;  then  it  becomes 
gradually  brighter,  and  visible  to  the  naked  eye  for  about  three  months,  rising  as  we 
have  before  mentioned  to  the  2d  magnitude ;  but  its  maximum  lasts  no  more  than  15 
days.  Its  spectrum  seems  to  indicate  that  it  is  sometimes  covered  with  spots  like  our 
sun,  but  the  period,  instead  of  being  about  11  years,  is  only  11  months.  Mira  has  a  com- 
panion of  9.5  magnitude ;  distance,  1'  58". 


Fig.  135.— Diagram  Showing  the  Variations  of  Mira. 


CETUS  — APPARATUS  CHEMICUS  -ERIDANUS. 


7:) 


£  (Zeta)— Double ;  magnitudes  3.5  and  9;  distance,  2' 45";  easy  pair. 

X  (CM)— Double;  magnitudes  4.8  and  7.5;  distance,  3'  6";  easy  pair. 

V  (Gamma)— Double;  magnitudes  3.2  and  7;  distance,  3";  pale  yellow  and  blue ;  nice  contrast. 

37— Double;  magnitudes  5.3  and  7;  distance,  51";  in  the  field  will  be  found  a  nice  pair,  magni- 
tudes 8  and  10;  distance,  20";  yellow  and  violet;  nice  field  of  small  stars. 

66— Double;  magnitudes  6.5  and  8;  distance,  15";  yellow  and  blue ;  elegant  pair. 

2  147— Double;  magnitudes  6  and  7;  distance,  3".5;  nice  pair. 

v  (Nu)— Double;    magnitudes  5.0  and  11 ;  distance,  6";  difficult  pair. 

61— Double;  magnitudes  6.5  and  11 ;  distance,  39" ;  difficult  pair. 

2218— Double;  near  61;  magnitudes  7  and  8.5;  distance,  4".6;  nice  field. 

84— Double;  magnitudes  7.5  and  10;  distance,  4".7 ;  difficult  pair ;  companion  lilac. 

42— Binary;  magnitudes  6  and  iyz ;  distance,  1".4;  very  slow  orbital  motion. 

r  (Taw)— Is  in  rapid  motion,  3' 20"  in  100  years ;  will  be  near  r,  (eta)  19,000  years  from  now 
(Flam.,  Les  Etoiles,  page  502). 

Near  8  (delta)  there  is  a  stellar  nebula,  M.  77,  easy  with  an  ordinary  telescope. 


APPARATUS    CHEMICUS    OR    FORNAX. 

Apparatus  Chemicus,  or  Chemical  Apparatus,  is  a  modern  constellation,  having  been 


formed  by  Lacaille,  in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


P.  Ill,  13 
P.  II,  195 
P.  I,  168 
P.  I,  241 
P.  I,  251 
P.  II,  28 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.6 
4.5 

5.3 
5.5 
4.8 
5.4 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAG 

B.A.     18 

80    DECL. 

TION. 

TUI 

h.  m. 

0      / 

3.  7 

-29.28 

P.  II,  73 

5.6 

2.45 

32.54 

P.  II,  122  dbl. 

4.8 

1.40 

25.45 

P.  II,  200 

5.6 

1.56 

30.36 

P.  Ill,  142 

4.9 

1.59 

29.54 

P.  Ill,  176 

5.6 

2.  8 

31.18 

P.  II,  194  dbl. 

6.5 

POSITION 


B.A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

2.17  —24.22 
28.46 
28.26 
32.19 
30.31 
37.55 


2.29 
2.45 
3.38 
3.43 
2.43 


NOTE. 

This  constellation,  entirely  visible  from  our  latitude,  contains  only  one  star  above  the 
4th  magnitude.  


ERIDANUS. 

Eridanus,  the  River,  also  called  the  River  Po,  was  called  at  the  time  of  Eudoxus  Orion's 
River,  or  Potamos  (the  River);  it  is  the  river  in  which  Phaeton,  son  of  Phoebus  (the  Sun)  and 
Clymene,  was  drowned  after  trying  to  drive  the  chariot  of  his  father;  according  to  mythology, 
Phaeton,  unable  to  manage  the  fiery  steeds,  was  precipitated  into  the  river  by  Jupiter  to  pre- 
vent a  general  conflagration. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


.(Achernar)  1.6  red 


/3  dbl. 
•ydbl. 


rj  dbl. 

e  dbl. 

<- 

K 

A 
M 


40  o2  trin. 

JT 

9pl 


2.8 

2.8 

3.3 

3.6 

4.9 

3.7 

2.6 

4.2 

4.2 

4.0 

4.0 

3.8 

5.6 

4.0 

4.4 

4.7  org. 

5.6  org. 


POSITION 

B.  A.     1 

J80    DECL. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

1.33 

—57.51 

5.  2 

5.15 

3.52 

13.51 

3.38 

10.10 

3.27 

9.52 

3.10 

0.16 

2.51 

0.22 

2.54 

40.47 

2.30 

40.22 

2.23 

48.14 

5.  3 

8.55 

4.40 

3.28 

4.30 

3.36 

4.18 

4.  1 

4.  6 

7.  9 

4.10 

7.47 

3.40 

12.29 

2.55 

8.  9 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 


10  p2  dbl. 

4969  Lai. 

1   Tl 

2r2 

11  r3 

16  T*  dbl. 

19  T5 

27  T« 

28  T? 
33x8 
36  T» 
50  vl 
52  u2 
43  v3 
41  v4 
<t>  dbl. 
Xdbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

5.3 
5.7 

4.5 
4.9 
4.1 
3.4 
45 
3.9 
5.5 
4.4 
4.4 
4.7 
3.7 
4.0 
3.3 
3.5 
3.9 
5.3 


B.A.     1* 

80    DEC!.. 

h.  m. 

O      / 

2.57 

—  8.10 

2.34 

9.58 

2.39 

19.  5 

2.46 

21.30 

2.57 

24.  6 

3.14 

22.12 

3.29 

22.  2 

3.42 

23.36 

3.43 

24.15 

3.49 

24.58 

3.55 

24.21 

4.29 

30.  0 

.31 

30.49 

.20 

34.18 

.13 

34.  6 

.12 

52.  2 

.51 

52.14 

.56 

7.21 

80 


ERIDANUS-LEPUS. 


E  R  I  D  A  N  U  S- CONTINUED. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


39  A 

62  b,  dbl. 

51  c 

4 

5 

15 

17 

20 

32  dbl. 

35 

45 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.2 
5.9 
5.8 
5.7 
5.4 
5.3 
4.7 
5.3 
4.7 
5.3 
5.4 


B.  A.     IS 

SO    DECL. 

Ul^SlliWA- 

TION. 

M.AUIN1- 
TUDE. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

4.47 

—5.39 

53 

4.1 

4.  9 

10.33 

54 

4.6 

4.50 

3.22 

55  dbl. 

6.5 

4.32 

2.43 

60 

5.0 

2.52 

24.21 

64 

4.8 

2.54 

2.57 

P.  Ill,  251 

5.8 

3.13 

22.58 

P.  IV,  154 

5.2 

3.25 

5.29 

9284  Lai. 

5.V. 

3.31 

17.52 

P.  Ill,  88 

4.V. 

3.48 

3.19 

* 

6.7  org. 

3.55 

1.53 

H.  IV,  26 

neb. 

4.26 

0.18 

POSITION 

i.  A.     1330 

DECL. 

.  m. 

O      f 

4.33 

—14.32 

4.35 

19.54 

4.38 

9.  1 

4.45 

16.26 

4.54 

12.42 

.  1 

27.59 

.34 

12.21 

.50 

16.37 

.26 

41.49 

4.28 

11.  2 

4.  9 

13.  3 

NOTES. 
This  constellation  is  not  entirely  visible  from  our  country,  and  its  brightest  star,  a  (alpha) 

or  Achernar,  which  means  "  end  of  the  river,"  will  be  found  on  our  little  map  of  the  Southern 

Constellations.    (Page  66.)    ft  (Beta)  is  also  called  Cursa  and  y  (gamma)  Zaurac. 

32  -  Double ;  magnitude  4.7  and  7 ;  distance,  6".7 ;  very  nice  pair ;  topaz  and  marine  blue ;  beauti- 
ful colors. 

02  (Omtcron2)— Trinary;  magnitudes  4.4-9.5  and  10.5;  distances,  for  1885,  82"  and  4";  the  com- 
panions are  only  4"  apart,  and  revolve  around  each  other  in  139  years.  This  beautiful 
system  has  been  observed  for  parallax 

By  Gill,  in  1883 0".166±0".018 

By  Asaph  Hall,  in  1883 0".223±0".020 

Taking  0".l9  for  the  average,  this  trinary  would  be  1,086,000  times  the  distance  from  the 

earth  to  the  sun,  or  100  trillions  of  miles,  and  the  light  would  have  to  travel  more  than  17  years 

to  reach  us  (Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  446).    It  has  "  one  of  the  greatest  proper  motion,"  4".10 

per  year,  apparent  diameter  of  the  moon  in  500  years;  direction  S.  W.,  toward  y  (gamma), 

near  which  it  will  be  in  9,000  years;  it  was  near  £  (zi)  5,000  years  ago. 

oi  (Owicroni)— Has  no  perceptible  proper  motion. 

39  A— Double;  magnitudes  5.2  and  9;  distance,  6".4;  beautiful  pair ;  yellow  and  blue. 

62  h— Double;  magnitudes  5.9  and  8 ;  distance,  64";  easy  pair. 

55— Double;  magnitudes  6.5  and  7;  distance,  10";  nice  pair.  The  star  56,  at  20  minutes  from 
55,  also  appears  in  the  field. 

0  (Theta)—  Is  also  a  double  star,  and  was  noted  of  2.6  magnitude  in  1873;  of  2.8  in  1871;  of  3d  in 
1870,  and  of  3.3  in  1862. 

H.  IV,  26— South  of  39  A  is  a  very  bright  circular  nebula  looking  like  a  star  not  exactly  at  the 
focus  of  the  telescope. 
Many  stars  of  this  constellation  offer  notable  variations  of  magnitude. 


Lepus,  or  the  Hare,  is 
who  used  to  call  it  "  Lagos 
which  mean  the  same  thing. 


LEPUS. 

also  one  of  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the  ancient  Greeks, 
"  the  Latins  named  it  "Lepus,"  the  Arabs  "Al-arnab;  "  all  of 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


«  dbl. 

ft  dbl. 
v  trip. 


dbl. 
dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.7 

2.9 

3.5 

3.7 

3.1  red 

3.6 

3.8 

5.2 

4.4 

4.2 

4.1 


POSITION 

DE8TGNA- 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

O      / 

5.27 

—17.54 

M 

5.23 

20.51 

V 

5.40 

22.29 

17 

5.46 

20.53 

P.  IV, 

5.  0 

22.32 

P.  IV, 

5.42 

14.52 

P.  V,  3 

5.51 

14.12 

P.  V,  7 

6.  1 

14.56 

10063  I 

5.  7 

12.  1 

R 

5.  8 

13.  5 

M.  79 

5.14 

13.18 

* 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.4 

5.7 
5.5 
5.5 
5.4 
5.4 
5.4 
4.9 

6.V,  red 
neb. 

cl. 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 

5.  8 
5.14 

6.  0 
4.56 
4.58 
5.11 
5.17 
5.15 
4.54 
5.19 
4.55 


)     DECL. 
O      / 

—16.21 
12.26 
16.29 
20.14 
26.27 
27.  4 
24.53 
21.22 
14.59 
24.38 
13.39 


LEPUS— COLOMBA-ANTLIA  PNEUMATICA. 


si 


a  (Alpha)— Is  also  called  Arneb. 

R.— The  principal  curiosity  of  this  constellation  is  the  variable  R,  visible  in  a  small  telescope 
below  64  on  the  line  passing  through  a  (alpha}  and  /*  (mu).  Hind,  who  discovered  it  in 
1845,  said  that  it  is  "  of  the  most  intense  crimson,  resembling  a  drop  of  blood  on  the  black 
ground  of  the  sky."  It  is  not  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  varies  from  the  G^th  to  8^th 
magnitude  in  a  period  of  438  days,  which  also  varies.  At  1°  4'  south  of  R  there  is  a 
nice  field  of  small  stars. 

•y  (Gamma)— Double;  magnitudes  3.5  and  6.5;  distance,  1' 33" ;  easy  pair;  triple  in  large  tele- 
scopes. 

K  (Kappa)— Double;  magnitudes  4.2  and  8.5;  distance,  3".7 ;  nice  pair. 

t  (Iota)— Double ;  magnitudes  4.4  and  12;  distance,  13";  companion  too  small  for  common  tele- 
scope. 

/3  (Beta)— Double ;  magnitudes  2.9  and  11;  distance,  3";  too  close,  and  companion  too  small  for 
ordinary  telescopes.  

COLOMBA. 

Colomba,  or  the  Dove,  is  a  constellation  generally  attributed  to  Augustin  Royer,  in  1679; 
some  said  it  was  introduced  by  Bartschius  in  1624,  but  it  already  appears  in  Bayer's  Atlas  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  (Phact) 
ft 
y  dbl. 

6 


MAGNI- 
TUDE 


2.5 

2.9 

4.5 

3.9 

4.1 

4.0  red 

5.3 

4.8 

5.2 

5.4 


POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

B.  A.     18 

80    DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

0      I 

5.35 

-34.  8 

i/l 

5.47 

35.49 

c2 

5.53 

35.18 

£ 

6.18 

33.23 

o 

5.27 

35.34 

7J-1 

5.56 

42.49 

7r2 

6.  4 

37.14 

<T 

6.12 

35.  6 

r 

5.49 

33.50 

2228  Lac. 

5.42 

32.21 

2234  Lac. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


6.4 

5.3 

5.4 

5.1 

6.V. 

5.V. 

5.6 

6.4 

6.3 

6.0 


POSITION 

B.  A.     18 

SO    DECL. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

5.33 

-27.57 

5.33 

28.46 

5.51 

37.  8 

5.13 

35.  1 

6.  3 

42.17 

6.  4 

42.08 

5.52 

31.24 

5.50 

29.10 

6.15 

34.21 

6.16 

34.  5 

NOTES. 

In  this  constellation  £  (zeta),  «.  (iota)  and  p  (rho)  have  no  star  corresponding  to  them : 
they  do  not  appear  in  any  catalogue  or  map. 
6  (Delta)— Varies  from  the  4th  to  5th  magnitude. 
r)  (Ma)— Also  varies  from  the  4th  to  the  5th  magnitude;  this  star  is  generally  inserted  in  Argo 

Navis.    As  there  is  another  star  in  this  constellation  having  the  same  letter,  it  may 

cause  confusion ;  rj  (eta)  of  Colomba  is  very  red. 
7r2  (Pi  2)— Varies  from  4l/2th  to  6th  magnitude ;  wi  (pi  i)  varies  also,  and  these  two  stars  are 

sometimes  seen  of  same  magnitude. 


ANTLIA    PNEUMATICA. 

Antlia  Pneumatica,  or  Air  Pump,  is  a  new  constellation  formed  by  Lacaille,  in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


y 

P.  X,  66 

8  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.4 

6.0 

7.2 

5.7 

6.0 

5.0  red 

6.1 


rusirnjw 

DE8IQNA 

B.  A.     1 

J80     DECL. 

TION. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

10.22 

—30.27 

!P 

11.  4 

31.42 

TJ  dbl. 

10.19 

29.  3 

B 

10.19 

37.24 

i 

10.24 

30.  0 

* 

9.24 

35.25 

* 

9.26 

31.22 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


6.3 

5.6 
5.2 
5.1 

7.0  red 
6.5  org. 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
9.26 
9.54 
9.39 
10.51 
10.  7 
10.30 


DECL. 

O      r 

—31.20 
35.19 
27.13 
36.29 
34.44 
38.57 


NOTES. 

This  constellation  was  formed  by  Lacaille  by  taking  some  isolated  stars  between  Argo 
Navis  and  Hydra ;  the  brightest  does  not  attain  the  4th  magnitude.  There  have  been  some 
changes  for  most  of  them  since  1752;  for  example,  e  (epsilon)  is  now  of  the  5th  magnitude  and 
should  be  immediately  after  a  (alpha);  it  was  of  the  6th  magnitude  then;  y  (gamma)  was  of 
the  5th  magnitude  then  and  is  now  invisible  to  the  naked  eye. 


ARGO  NAVIS. 


ARGO    NAVIS. 

Argo  Navis,  or  the  Ship,  is  the  ship  used  by  Jason  and  the  Argonauts  to  go  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  "  Golden  Fleece."  This  constellation  is  the  largest  of  all  and  one  of  the  oldest, 
appearing  in  the  Greek  sphere  during  Eudoxus'  time,  4th  century  B.  C. 

PUPPIS. 


DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

*•   

v 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

/___    ^_ 

TION 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

0      ' 

a  (Canopus) 

1.0 

6.21 

—52.38 

a 

4.0  red 

7.48 

—40.16 

V 

3.5 

6.34 

43.  5 

b 

4.9 

7.48 

38.33 

r 

3.2 

6.47 

50.28 

J 

4.5 

7.50 

47.48 

L2  dbl. 

3.V. 

7.10 

44.26 

£ 

2.5 

7.59 

39.40 

7T 

2.7  red 

7.13 

36.53 

P  dbl. 

3.2 

8.02 

23.58 

a-  dbl. 

3.5  red 

7.26 

43.  3 

2  1120,  dbl. 

6.5 

7.30 

14.13 

n  dbl. 

5.7 

7.29 

23.12 

2  1121,  dbl. 

7.2 

7.31 

14.13 

fc  dbl. 

4.5 

7.34 

26.32 

2  1138,  dbl. 

7.0 

7.40 

14.23 

I 

4.2  red 

7.39 

28.40 

M.  46 

Cl, 

7.36 

14.33 

c 

3.6  red 

7.41 

37.41 

M.  93 

cl. 

7.39 

23.35 

2994  Lac. 

3.5 

7.44 

24.34 

H.  IV,  39 

neb. 

7.36 

14.27 

3001  Lac. 

6.V.  red 

7.44 

40.21 

H.  VIII,  38 

cl. 

7.31 

14.13 

P 

4.3 

7.46 

46.  4 

CARINA. 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

B.^A      1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O       / 

h.  m. 

o     / 

X 

3.7 

7.54 

—52.39 

q 

3.3 

10.13 

—60.44 

e 

2.1 

8.20 

59.  7 

I 

4.3 

10.22 

73.25 

a 

4.7 

8.38 

59.20 

fi 

5.V.  red 

10.32 

58.56 

c 

4.0 

8.52 

60.11 

/2  dbl. 

5.2  red 

10.34 

58.33 

G 

4.8 

9.  5 

72.  7 

s 

4.6 

10.24 

58.  7 

a 

3.8 

9.  8 

58.28 

P 

3.6 

10.28 

61.  4 

i 

4.3 

9.  9 

61.49 

0 

2.9 

10.39 

63.46 

0 

2.0 

9.12 

69.13 

TJ 

l.V. 

10.40 

59.  3 

0 

4.8 

9.13 

57.  2 

u 

4.1  red 

10.49 

58.13 

i        , 

2.5 

9.14 

58.46 

X 

4.6 

11.  4 

58.19 

I 

4.V. 

9.42 

61.57 

R 

4.V. 

9.29 

62.16 

V 

3.3 

9.44 

64.31 

neb.  of  -TI 

10.40 

59.  3 

0) 

3.6 

10.11 

69.26 

cl.  and  * 

red 

7.57 

60.30 

VELA. 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R".  A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

O      / 

h.  m. 

o     / 

v  dbl. 

3.0 

8.  6 

—46.59 

A 

2.5 

9.  4 

—42.57 

e 

4.6 

8.34 

42.34 

K. 

2.7 

9.19 

54.30 

b  dbl. 

4.1 

8.37 

46.13 

$ 

3.7 

9.26 

39.56 

o 

4.0 

8.37 

52.30 

N 

3.2V. 

9.28 

56.30 

d 

4.4 

8.40 

42.12 

<£ 

3.9 

9.53 

54.  0 

s  dbl. 

2.2 

8.42 

54.16 

q 

4.0 

10.10 

41.31 

a 

4.1 

8.42 

45.36 

P 

4.1 

10.32 

47.36 

c 

4.6 

9.  0 

46.37 

/* 

2.9 

10.42 

48.47 

MALUS. 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNT* 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.A.     1880 

DECL. 

h.  m. 

0       ! 

h.  m. 

O      / 

f> 

4.4  red 

8.35 

—34.53 

C 

4.4 

8.45 

-27.16 

a 

3.8 

8.39 

32.45 

e  dbl. 

4.5 

9.05 

29.58 

ARGO  NAVIS. 


NOTES. 

This  is  the  largest  of  all  constellations,  but  we  can  see  only  a  part  of  it,  the  rest  being 

too  far  in  the  Southern  Hemisphere.    (Refer  to  our  map  of  the  Southern  Constellations, 

page  GG,  for  everything  that  does  not  appear  on  our  planisphere.) 

H.  VIII,  38— The  second  nebula  in  the  direction  of  Sirius  to  y  (gamma)  Canis  Majoris,  is  a 
nice  cluster;  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  with  two  double  stars  in  the  field. 

M.  46— Is  a  circular  cluster  composed  of  small  stars  shining  like  diamond  dust,  near  which 
appears  the  remarkable  planetary  nebula  H.  IV,  39.  (See  near  38.) 

v  (Nu)— Is  a  beautiful  blue  star ;  color  very  rare  in  single  stars. 

a  (Alpha)  Canopus— The  brightest  star  after  Sirius ;  is  too  far  south  to  appear  on  our  plani- 
sphere ;  it  could  be  seen  from  all  points  south  of  the  37th  degree  of  latitude. 

r?  (Eta)— Is  the  famous  variable  of  this  constellation,  and  one  of  the  most  remarkable,  but 
not  visible  from  our  latitude;  here  we  give  the  table  of  the  variations  observed,  the 
years,  and  the  names  of  the  observers : 


YEAKS. 

MAGNITUDE. 

OBSERVERS. 

YEARS. 

MAGNITUDE. 

OBSERVERS. 

1677 

4 

Halley. 

1858 

2.6 

Powell. 

1751 

2 

Lacaille. 

1860 

3.5 

Tebbutt. 

1811-15 

4 

Burchell. 

1862 

4.3 

Tebbutt. 

1822-26 

2 

Fallows,  Brisbane. 

1864 

5.0 

Tebbutt. 

1827 

1 

Burchell. 

1866 

5.6 

Tebbutt. 

1828-33 

2 

Johnson,  Taylor. 

1868 

6.1 

Tebbutt. 

1834-37 

l1^ 

John  Herschel. 

1870 

6.5 

Tebbutt,  Gould. 

1838-42 

1 

Maclear. 

1872 

6.8 

Tebbutt. 

1842 

Nearly  as  Sirius 

Maclear. 

1874 

7.0 

Tebbutt. 

1844-54 

1 

Jacob,  Gilliss. 

1876 

7.2 

Gould. 

1856 

1.5 

Powell. 

1878 

7.4 

Gould. 

Since  1867  it  is  not  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 
brighter  again?    So  far  we  do  not  know. 


Is  the  variation  periodical?    Will  it  come 


.  136.— The  Great  Nebula  in  Argo  Navts. 


(Eta)  is  near  the  center  of  the  famous  nebula  2197  of  J.  Herschel's  general  catalogue, 
which  occupied  nearly  one  degree ;  like  the  great  nebula  of  Orion,  it  can  not  be  resolved 
into  stars.  Sir  J.  Herschel  undertook  and  succeeded  in  illustrating  this  beautiful  object; 
it  shows  1,203  stars,  all  measured  and  properly  located  by  this  habile  observer;  the  light 
must  take  thousands  of  years  to  come  from  there,  and  is  most  likely  not  as  it  appears  to 
us  now.  The  region  of  the  "  Milky  Way  "  near  this  nebula  is  one  of  the  richest  in  stars, 
and  J.  Herschel  counted  250  of  them  in  a  field  of  15  minutes  in  diameter  and  147,000  in  47 
square  degrees !  (Fig.  1 36. ) 


CENTAUKUS. 


CEN  TAURUS. 

Centaurus,  or  the  Centaur,  is  most  likely  the  same  Cheiron  already  spoken  of  in  Sagit- 
tarius. The  Centaurs  were  a  nomadic  tribe  of  Thessalian  race;  as  they  were  excellent  horse- 
men, they  were  fabled  as  being  half  man  and  half  horse. 

This  constellation  appears  in  the  Greek  sphere  in  Eudoxus'  time,  and  is  certainly  older. 


—V  DESIGNA- 


TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL.               TI 

h.  m. 

0      > 

a  dbl. 

1.0  yel. 

14.31 

—60.20 

& 

0 

1.5 

13.55 

59.48 

oi 

y  dbl. 

2.5 

12.35 

48.18 

02 

6 

2.8 

12.  2 

50.  3 

77 

e 

2.6 

13.32 

52.51 

P 

£dbl. 

2.7 

13.48 

46.42 

cr 

•n 

2.5 

14.28 

41.38 

T 

0 

2.3 

14.  0 

35.47 

vl 

i 

3.0 

13.14 

36.   5 

v% 

K 

3.3 

14.51 

41.37 

4> 

A 

3.4 

11.30 

62.21 

X 

M 

3.4 

13.42 

41.53 

* 

V 

3.7 

13.42 

41.  5 

CO 

& 

5.8 

12.57 

48.53 

K 

TUDE. 

K.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m. 

o     / 

4.8 

13.  0 

—49.16 

5.2 

11.26 

58.47 

5.5 

11.26 

58.51 

4.3 

11.16 

53.50 

4.5 

12.  5 

51.42 

4.3 

12.22 

49.34 

4.4 

12.31 

47.53 

4.2 

13.51 

44.13 

5.0 

13.54 

45.   1 

4.1 

13.51 

41.31 

4.8 

13.59 

40.36 

4.4 

14.13 

37.20 

cl. 

13.20 

46.51 

6.V.  red 

14.  8 

59.20 

NOTES. 

This  constellation  is  too  far  south  to  be  seen  entirely  from  the  United  States ;  it  con- 
tains the  nearest  star  to  us,  which  is  also  one  of  the  most  interesting  doubles. 

a  (Alpha)— Binary ;  magnitudes  1st  and  2d;  the  components  revolve  around  each  other  in  84 
years ;  the  plane  of  the  revolution  forms  an  angle  of  79°  with  the  plane  perpendicular  to 
our  vision,  and  consequently  the  ellipse  appears  more  than  twice  as  long  as  it  really  is. 
We  give  herewith  the  principal  measures  of  the  angle  and  distances  of  the  two  stars 
since  John  Herschel's  observations : 


YEAR. 

OBSERVERS. 

ANGLE. 

DISTANCE. 

1833 

J  Herschel 

217°5 

18"  7 

1840 

Maclear 

223°2 

14"  7 

1850 

Jacob      .  . 

250°7 

6"0 

1856 

Jacob  .              

307°0 

3".  9 

1860 
1870 
1878 

Powell  
Powell  
Gill  

347°0 

22°0 
100°0 

5".6 
10".3 
1".9 

1880 

Cruls 

165°0 

3"  1 

The  companion  was  noted  of  4th  magnitude  before  1830  by  Feuillee,  Lacaille,  Brisbane 
and  Dunlop;  of  3d  magnitude  by  J.  Herschel,  in  1835;  it  is  now  of  the  2d  magnitude;  its 
color  is  orange,  a  (Alpha)  is  also  in 
rapid  motion,  3".67  per  year;  6  min- 
utes in  100  years.  If  this  motion  con. 
tinues  it  will  pass  very  near  £  (beta) ; 
in  12,000  years  it  will  be  in  the 
Southern  Cross,  and  in  the  500th  cen- 
tury it  will  be  near  y  (gamma)  of 
Argo  Navis  Fig.  137.— Apparent  Orbit  of  a 


CENTAURUS. 


We  give  below  the  measures  of  its  parallax  at  different  times : 


OBSERVERS.  PARALLAX. 

Henderson,  1838 l".16  ±0".ll 

Henderson  and  Maclear,  1842. . .  .0".913±0".064 

Maclear,  1851 0".919±0".034 

Moesta,  1864. . .  . .  .0".521  ±0".OGG 


OBSERVERS.  PARALLAX. 

Gill,  1883 0".747±0".013 

Gill,  1883 0".7G5±0".017 

Elkill,  1882 0".783±0".028 

Elkin,  1883. 0".G76±0".027 


Devolution  =84  .rear9 


The  last  four  are  the  result  of  careful  micrometrical  measures,  and  in  taking  their 
average,  o".75,  it  represents  275,000  times  the  distance  from  the  earth  to  the  sun,  or  25  trillions 
of  miles,  and  the  light  travels  4 
years  and  128  days  to  reach  us 
(Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  443). 
A  fast  train  going  at  the  rate 
of  60  miles  an  hour  would  have 
to  run  for  more  than  47  mil- 
lion 500  thousand  years  with- 
out stopping  before  arriving 
on  this  sun,  which,  as  we  said 
before,  is  the  nearest  to  us. 
a  (Alpha)  is  the  standard  of 
stars  of  1st  magnitude.  From 
the  photometrical  measures  of 
Sir  J.  Herschel,  the  light  of  a 
(alpha)  equals  l-27,000thof  the 
light  of  the  full  moon ;  the  full 
moon  l-800,000th  of  the  light  of 
the  sun,  consequently  it  would  Fig.  13S.-Real  Orbit  of  a 

take  22  millions  of  stars  of  the  same  magnitude  to  produce  as  much  light  as  the  sun;  it 
would  take  only  5,400  stars  like  Sirius  to  give  the  same  result.  Seen  from  a  Centauri, 
our  sun  is  only  a  star  of  the  2d  magnitude;  if  they  were  revolving  around  their  center 
of  gravity  the  revolution  would  take  about  13  millions  of  years  to  be  accomplished. 

/3  (Beta)— The  parallax  of  this  star  is  given  as  below -. 

Maclear,  in  1842-3 0".470±0".444 

Moesta,  in  1860-4 0".l73  ±0".070 

Gill,  in  1882 — 0".017  ±0".072 

The  last  one  considered  as  most 

correct,  being  "  negative,"  indicates  that 

/3  (beta)  is  too  far  to  calculate  its  distance 

(Revue  d'Ast.,  1889;  page  449). 

w  (Omega)—  Is  the  beautiful  cluster,  vis- 
ible to  the  naked  eye  as  a  star  of  the 
4th  magnitude ;  it  is  the  finest  cluster 
of  the  heavens ;  its  shape  is  nearly 
spherical  and  it  contains  several 
thousand  stars  in  a  size  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  apparent  disc  of  the 
moon.  It  could  be  seen  near  the 
horizon  passing  the  meridian  at 


midnight,  the  10th  of  April. 


Fig.  139.— Cluster 


LUPUS -ARA- CORONA  AUSTRALIS. 


LUPUS. 

Lupus,  or  the  Wolf,  is  au  old  constellation,  mention  of  it  being  made  by  Eudoxus;  the 
Greeks  also  called  it  the  Ferocious  Beast.  It  most  likely  represents  Lycaon,  King  of  Arcadia, 
struck  by  lightning  and  changed  into  a  wolf  by  Jupiter,  whom  he  had  offended. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


y  dbl. 

8 

e  dbl. 

£dbl. 

r,  dbl. 


dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.6 

2.8 

3.2 

3.7  red 

3.7 

3.6 

3.7 

4.9 

3.8 

4.2 


R.  A.     1* 

h.  m. 

80     DECL. 

O       / 

14.34 

—  4G.52 

14.51 

42.39 

15.27 

40.46 

15.13 

40.13 

15.14 

44.15 

15.  4 

51.38 

15.52 

38.  3 

15.59 

36.29 

14.12 

45.30 

15.  4 

48.17 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

A 

M.  dbl. 

n  dbl. 

p 


X 

4  Lac. 
6380  Lac. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.8 

4.8 

4.3 

4.5 

3.6  red 

5.1 

4.2 

5.V. 

5.9  red 


R.  A. 

h.  m. 
15.  1 
15.10 
14.57 
14.30 
15.14 
15.15 
15.43 
15.35 
15.21 


)     DECL. 

O      I 

—44.48 
47.26 
46.35 
48.54 
35.50 
36.26 
33.15 
34.19 
46.19 


NOTES. 

This  constellation  is  almost  entirely  visible  from  New  York,  Chicago  and  San  Francisco, 
but  very  close  to  the  horizon ;   it  is  composed  of  stars  of  small  magnitude ;   the  brightest  one, 
a  (alpha) ,  being  only  a  little  above  the  3d. 
<M  (P/ifi)— Is  very  red;   it  was  noted  of  the  4th  magnitude  in  1751 ;    of  the  5th  in  1825;   of  the 

4.2  in  1836;  of  4%ds  in  1860,  and  of  3.6  in  1878. 


ARA. 

Ara,  or  the  Altar,  appeared  in  the  sphere  of  Eudoxus,  and  was  introduced  most  likely 
to  perpetuate  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods— perhaps  apropos  of  the  Argonauts'  expedition. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 
0 

y  dbl. 
6  dbl. 

el 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.9 

2.8 
3.6 
3.7 
4.2 


R.A.     18t 

h.  m. 

0     DECL. 

0       / 

DESIGNA- 
TION . 

17.22 

—49.47 

e2 

17.15 

55.25 

£ 

17.15 

56.15 

rj 

17.20 

60.35 

0  dbl. 

16.50 

52.58 

* 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.9 

3.2  red 
3.8 
3.9 
5.V. 


17.30 


NOTE. 


This  constellation  is  too  far  south  to  be  seen  entirely  on  our  planisphere,  a  (alpha)  and 
0  (theta)  only  touching  the  horizon  at  9  p.  m.,  at  the  end  of  July  and  beginning  of  August. 


CORONA    AUSTRALIS. 

Corona  Australis,  or  the  Southern  Crown,  is  one  of  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  the 
ancients,  being  already  mentioned  by  Eudoxus  and  Aratus. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


(B 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.2 

4.1 


POSITION 
R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

19.  1          -38.  5 
19.  2  39.32 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


y  bin. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.6 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 

18.58 


POSITION 

DECL. 


37.14 


NOTES. 

This  constellation  contains  only  three  stars  above  the  5th  magnitude. 

Y  (Gamma)— Binary;  magnitudes  5.5  and  5.5;  distance,  1".5;  close  pair;  in  very  rapid  orbital 
motion;  revolution, 55 years. 


INDUS  —  GRUS  — PHCENIX-HOROLOGIUM. 


87 


INDUS. 

Indus,  or  the  Indian,  is  a  modern  constellation,  formed  by  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.1 
3.7 
6.3 

4.8 


K.  A.      1S80     DECL. 


h.  m. 
20.29 
20.45 
21.18 
21.50 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.2 

5.3 
4.7 
4.6 


53.57 


NOTES. 

"With  the  exception  of  a  (alpha)  and  £  (zeta)  all  the  stars  of  this  constellation  are  too  far 
south  to  be  seen  from  our  latitude. 

y  (Gramma) — Was  of  the  4V£th  magnitude,  but  is  now  hardly  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 
e  (Epsilon) — Is  in  rapid  motion,  4".60  per  year,  and  will  reach  the  south  pole  in  50,000  years  if 
nothing  occurs  to  retard  its  present  motion.    Its  parallax  has  been  tried  and  found  to  be : 

By  Elkin  and  Gill,  in  1883 0".274±0".027 

By  Elkin,  in  1883 0".124±9".019 

The  average,  0".22,  represents  937,000  times  the  distance  of  the  earth  from  the  sun,  or  87 
trillions  500  billions  of  miles,  and  it  takes  the  light  14  years  and  146  days  to  reach  us. 


GRUS. 

Grus,  or  the  Goose,  is  a  modern  constellation,  formed  by  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


y 

51 
52  dbl. 


TUDE. 
2.0 

2.3  red 
3.0 
4.2 
4.4 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
22.  1 
22.35 
21.47 

22.22 
22.23 


i     DECL. 

O      ' 

—47.32 
47.31 
37.56 
44.  7 
44.22 


POSITION 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.5 

4.0 
5.1 
4.2 
3.9 


B.  A.     1880    DECL. 

h.  m. 
22.41 


22.54 
22.38 
23.  0 
23.  4 


o  i 
—51.57 
53.24 
54.  8 
44.10 
45.54 


NOTE. 
The  southern  part  of  this  constellation  is  not  visible  from  our  latitude. 


PHCENIX. 

Phoenix,  or  the  Phenix,  is  a  modern  constellation,  formed  by  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.4 

3.3 

3.4  red 
4.0 


dbl. 
r,  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.8 
4.2 

4.5 


R.  A. 

h.  m. 

0.  3 

1.  3 
0.38 


)     DECL. 

O      ' 

-46.24 
55.53 
58.  7 


NOTE. 

The  southern  part  of  this  constellation  is  not  visible  from  our  latitude. 


HOROLOGIUM. 

Horologium,  the  Horoscope  or  the  Clock,  is  a  new  constellation,  formed  by  Lacaille 
in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.8 

5.2 
1320  Lac.  7.0 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
4.10 

2.57 
3.56 


DECL. 

O       / 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


6.1 

5.3 


POSITION 


—42.35 
64.33 
44.15 

NOTE. 
Only  a  part  of  this  constellation  rises  above  the  horizon  in  our  latitude. 


DECL. 
o    / 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
2.43          —64.13 
4.  7  42.18 


RETICULUM-XIPHIAS-PLUTEUM  PICTORIS- PISCIS  VOLANS. 


RETICULUM. 

Reticulum,  or  the  Reticule,  is  a  new  constellation,  formed  by  Lacaille  in  1752. 


POSITION 


POSITION 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


3.3 
3.9 
4.7  red 

4.7 


K.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

—62.46 


4.13 
3.43 
3.59 
3.57 


65.11 
62.30 
61.44 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.6 
5.9 
5.7 


R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 

4.15 


3.15 
3.16 


—59.35 
63.  2 
62.58 


NOTES. 

This  southern  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

£  (Zeto)— Is  a  double  star  visible  to  the  naked  eye;   magnitudes  5.7  and  5.9;  in  rapid  motion 
toward  the  region  where  we  come  from. 


Xiphias, 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

a  dbl. 

y 
No  star  ( 

Pluteum 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

a 
ft 

This  sou 

Dorado, 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

3.1 
3.9 
4.4 

)f  this  co 
Pictoris, 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

3.5 
3.9 

them  coi 

XIPHIAS    0 

or  the  Graver,  is  a  consl 

POSITION 

R    DORAD 

.ellation  formed 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

s 

e 

TE. 

ove  the  horizon 

0. 

by  Bayer 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

4.5 

5.1 

4.8 

in  our  lati 

5. 

med  by  L£ 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

4.7 
5.2 

ude. 

nl603. 

POSITION 

R.  A.      1880     DECL. 

h.  m.             °    ' 
4.32         —55.17 
5.33             62.34 
4.13             51.47 

NO 

nstellation  ever  rises  ab 

R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.             °    ' 
5.45          —65.46 
5.50             66.56 
5.  4             57.38 

tude. 
icaille  in  1752. 

POSITION 

PLUTEUM 

or  the  Easel,  is  a  new  c 

POSITION 

PICTORIS 

onstellation,  foi 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

V 
8 

TE. 
le  from  our  latit 

R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.             °    ' 
6.47         -61.49 
5.45             51.  7 

NO 

istellation  is  never  visib 

R.A.     188C 

h.  m. 

5.48 
6.  8 

DECL. 
O       / 

—56.12 
54.57 

PISCIS    VOLANS. 

Piscis  Volans,  or  the  Flying  Fish,  first  appears  in  Bayer's  atlas  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


ft 

y  dbl. 


MAGNI-  , 

TUDE.  R.  A. 

h.  m. 
9.  1 
8.25 
7.10 
7.17 


4.2 
3.9 
3.8 
4.1 


ION 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

  A  , 

DECL. 

TIO-N. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

O      / 

h.  m. 

O       ' 

—65.55 

6  dbl. 

4.5 

8.  8 

—68.16 

65.44 

t,  dbl. 

4.3 

7.44 

72.19 

70.18 

r,  (11)1. 

4.5 

8.22 

73.  0 

67.44           fldbl. 

4.5 

8.39 

70.  0 

NOTES. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

In  this  constellation  a  (alpha)  varies  from  the  3Hth  to  the  5th  magnitude;  ft  (beta}, 
y  (gamma)  and  8  (delta)  from  the  4th  to  the  5th  magnitude;  e  (epsilon)  from  the  4.5  to  the  6th 
magnitude,  and  £  (zeta)  from  the  4.3  to  the  5.7  magnitude. 


CHAMELEON  -  APIS  -  CRUX  -  CIRCINUS. 


CHAMXELEON. 

Chamaeleon,  or  the  Chameleon,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.2 
4.6 


R.  A. 

h.  m. 
8.22 
12.11 


POSITION 

DECL. 


—76.32 
78.39 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


y 
6  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.4 

4.8 


POSITION 
iT.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

10.34         —77.59 
10.45  79.54 


NOTE. 
This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

APIS    OR    MUSCA. 

Apis,  the  Bee  (also  called  Musca,  the  Fly),  is  a  small  constellation  formed  by  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


2.9 

3.4 
4.0 
3.7 

4.7 


R.A.     18 

h.  m. 

80     DECL. 
o     / 

ujCjoivinA-                   ixiA«jrr»n- 
TION.                         TUDE. 

12.30 

—68.29 

£i                    6.5  ret 

12.39 

67.27 

£2                        5.8 

12.25 

71.28 

A                        3.8 

12.54 

70.54 

ft                        5.3  ret 

12.11 

67.17 

NOTE. 

R.  A. 

h.  m. 
12.15 
12.15 
11.40 
11.43 


I  DECL. 
O  / 

—67.38 
66.51 
66.  4 


This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 


CRUX. 

Crux,  or  the  Cross,  was  part  of  the  constellation  Centaurus;  it  is  mentioned  by  Hip- 
parchus  in  the  1st  century  B.  C.,  and  was  introduced  by  Augustin  Royer  in  1679,  but  a  cross 
already  appeared  in  Bayer's  Atlas  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


a  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


y  dbl. 

s 


1.6 

1.8 

2.0  red 

3.4 

4.0 

4.6 


POSITION 
R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °     ' 

12.20         —62.26 

12.41 

12.25 

12.  9 

12.15 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


r,  dbl. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.7 
4.7 
5.3 
5.7 

6.7  red 
8.5  red 


h.  m. 
12.  1 
11.57 
11.58 
12.39 
12.47 
12.40 


1880    DECL. 
O      / 

-63.56 
62.39 
62.30 
60.19 
59.43 
59.  2 


59.  2 

56.26  02 

58.  5 

59.44  K  (cl.) 

12.12  63.20 

NOTES. 

This  beautiful  Southern  Constellation,  traversed  by  the  "Milky  Way,"  is  very  rich  and 
contains  no  less  than  three  stars  of  the  1st  magnitude,  but  it  is  too  far  south  to  be  seen  from 
our  latitude. 

«  (Kappa)—  Is  hardly  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  offers  in  the  field  a  beautiful  cluster  of  110 
stars  of  every  color,  among  them  one  ruby,  one  marine  blue,  two  emerald  and  three 
pale  green ;  the  white  stars  shine  like  diamonds. 

y  (Gamma)— Has  a  beautiful  spectrum,  very  interesting,  similar  to  the  spectrum  of  a.  (alpha) 
of  Hercules  and  Betelgeuse,  and  some  lines  indicating  the  presence  of  water  in  its  atmos- 
phere in  a  vaporous  state.  The  dark  spot  in  the  "Milky  Way  "  between  the  Cross  and 
Apis  is  the  famous  "Coal  Sack,"  also  called  Macula  Magellanae. 


CIRCINUS. 

Circinus,  the  Compasses,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Lacaille  in  1752. 

POSITION 


DESIGNA 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

dbl.  3.5  14.33          —64.27     !        y  (11)1. 

4.7  15.  8  58.21     I 

NOTE. 
This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


R.  A. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

15.14         -58.53 


90 


TRIANGULUM  AUSTKALIS  —  APUS  —  PAVO  —  TOUCAN. 


TRIANGULUM    AUSTRALIS. 

Triangulum  Australis,  or  the  Southern  Triangle,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Bayer 
in  1603. 

POSITION                                                                                                               POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

t    \  s 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

,   

"  v 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

TION  . 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m.             °   ' 

h.  m. 

0        I 

a 

2.2  red 

16.36          —68.48 

y 

3.1 

15.  8 

-68.14 

ft 

3.1 

15.44             63.  3 

NOTE. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

APUS. 

Apus, 

the  Indian  Bird  or  Paradise  Bird,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Bayer  in 

1603. 

POSITION 

POSITION 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

,    -*  N 

DESIGNA- 

MAGNI- 

  *  N 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A.     1880     DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880     DECL. 

h.  m.             °    ' 

h.  m. 

o     / 

a 

4.0 

14.33          —78.32 

y 

3.9 

16.15 

—78.37 

/3dbl. 

4.5  red 

16.26             77.16 

NOTE. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

PAVO. 

Pavo, 

or  the  Peacock, 

is  of  recent  origin,  and  was  formed  into  a  constellation  by  John 

Bayer  in  1603. 

POSITION 

MAGNI- 

POSITION 

TION. 

TUDE. 

B.  A.     1880    DECL. 

TION. 

TUDE. 

R.  A. 

1880    DECL. 

h.  m.             °    ' 

h.  m. 

o     / 

a 

2.1 

20.16         —57.  7 

t 

5.8 

17.59 

—62.  1 

ft 

3.3 

20.34             66.38 

K 

4.V. 

18.44 

67.23 

y 

4.5 

21.16             65.55 

A 

4.3 

18.41 

62.20 

8 

3.5  red 

19.57             66.29 

M1 

5.9  red 

19.48 

67.16 

e 

4.0 

19.46             73.15 

M- 

5.6  red 

19.50 

67.17 

£dbl. 

4.2 

18.29             71.32 

V 

4.8 

18.20 

62.21 

i? 

3.8 

17.34             64.40 

77 

4.6 

17.57 

63.40 

0 

6.1 

18.37             65.12 

* 

7.0  very  red 

17.33 

57.40 

NOTES. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude, 
a  (Alpha)—  Is  a  bright  star  of  nearly  the  1st  magnitude. 
«.  (Iota)— Does  not  appear  in  the  last  catalogue  of  Lacaille,  nor  in  Brisbane ;  it  must  have 

changed  magnitude ;  it  is  now  of  the  6th. 
K  (Kappa)— Varies  from  the  4th  to  the  6th  magnitude. 


TOUCAN. 

The  Toucan  was  formed  into  a  constellation  by  John  Bayer  in  1603. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

R!  A.     18S 

, 

0     DECL. 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

MAUNI- 
TUDE. 

B.A.     IS 

80     DECL. 

h.  m. 

0      / 

h.  m. 

0      / 

a 

2.8  red 

22.10 

—60.51 

6 

4.3 

23.54 

-66.14 

ft  dbl. 

3.7 

0.26 

63.37 

£ 

4.1 

0.14 

65.35 

y 

4.0 

23.10 

58.54 

52  Herschel 

cl. 

0.19 

72.45 

S  dbl. 

4.8 

22.19 

65.34 

TOUCAN  —  HYDRUS  —  MONS  MENS M  -  OCT ANS. 


NOTES. 

£  (Zeta)— Mr.  Elkin,  of  Yale  College,  obtained  a 
parallax  of  this  star  =  0".057±0".019;  this 
parallax  is  considered  too  uncertain  to  de- 
termine its  distance. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our 
latitude.  It  has  a  beautiful  cluster  visible  to 
the  naked  eye ;  a  bright  double  star  is  near  the 
center.  This  cluster  (Fig.  140),  the  52d  of  John 
Herschel's  catalogue,  is  also  called  Herseh. 
(See  our  map  of  the  Southern  Constellations, 
page  66.) 


Fig.  140.— Cluster  52  Herschel. 


HYDRUS. 

Hydrus,  the  male  Hydra  or  the  Snake,  is  one  of  the  constellations  of  Bayer's  atlas  (1603). 


POSITION 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

R.  A.     18i 

h.  m. 

*  . 

!0     DECL. 
0      / 

DESIGNA- 
TION. 

2.9 

1.55 

—62.    9 

8 

2.7 

0.19 

77.56 

6 

3.2  red 

3.49 

74.36 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


4.1  red 
4.2 


B.  A.     1880     DECL. 

h.  m.  °    ' 

2.20         —69.12 
2.38  68.47 


NOTE. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude.  It  contains  the  "  Nebecula  Minor," 
which  occupies  nearly  10  square  degrees,  in  which  J.  Herschel  discovered  32  nebulae,  6 
clusters,  and  200  distinct  stars. 


MONS    MENSXE. 

Mons  Mensa?,  or  Mount  of  the  Table,  is  a  constellation  formed  by  Lacaille  in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.3 

5.7 


B.  A. 

h.  m. 
6.14 
5.  5 


—74.43 
71.29 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


v  dbl. 
8 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.6 
5.8 


NOTES. 

This  constellation  is  never  visible  from  our  latitude. 

Between  Mens  Mensae  and  Hydrus  is  the  "  Nebecula  Major,"  an  immense  cluster  200 
times  larger  than  the  apparent  disc  of  the  moon,  and  covering  no  less  than  42  square  degrees. 
J.  Herschel  found  in  it  284  nebulae,  64  clusters,  and  582  separate  stars. 

The  Nubeculae  Major  and  Minor  are  also  called  Magellanic  Clouds. 


OCTANS. 

Octans,  the  Octant,  is  the  constellation  occupying  the  South  Pole,  and  had  been  formed 
by  Lacaille  in  1752. 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


5.6 

4.4 
5.5 
4.7 


R.  A. 
h.  m. 
20.50 
22.33 
23.45 
14.  7 


DECL. 


POSITION 


DESIGNA- 
TION. 


MAGNI- 
TUDE. 


B.  A.     1880    DECL. 

h.  m. 
21.28 


o     i 
—77.54 


—77.28  v  3.8 

82.  1  a-  5.8  18.16  89.17 
82.41            T                         6.0                       23.  9 

83.  7 
NOTE. 

This  last  constellation,  occupying  the  south  pole,  and  consequently  invisible  from  our 
latitude,  contains  no  star  of  any  importance;  the  brightest  is  no  longer  a  (alpha)  but  3  (beta). 


OLD  AND  NEW  CONSTELLATIONS  IN 
CHRONOLOGICAL  ORDER. 


CONSTELLATIONS.  WHEN  FIRST  CITED. 

Ursa  Major Job  XXXVIII,  31  (17th  century  B.C.?);  Homer  (9th  century  B.  C.). 

Orion Job  IX,  9;  Homer;  Hesiocl. 

Pleiades Job  XXXVIII,  31 ;  Homer ;  Hesiod. 

Hyades "  "  " 

Sirius  and  Canis  Major.  ..Homer;  Hesiod. 

Aldebaran  and  Taurus " 

Arcturus  and  Bootes " 

Ursa  Minor Thales  (7th  century  B.C.);  Eudoxus  (4th  century  B.  C.);  Aratus 

(3d  century  B.  C.). 

Draco Eudoxus ;  Aratus. 

Engonasi  (called  Hercules 

afterward) " 

*Cerberus  and  Rainus " 

Corona  Borealis " 

Ophiuchus  and  Serpens " 

Scorpio " 

Spica  and  Virgo " 

Gemini 

Procyon " 

Leo 

Capella  and  Auriga " 

Cepheus " 

Cassiopea " 

Andromeda " 

Pegasus " 

Deltoton  or  Triangulum ...  " 

Pisces " 

Perseus " 

Lyra " 

Cygnus " 

Aquila " 

Aquarius " 

Capricornus " 

Sagittarius 

Sagitta 

Delphinus " 

Lepus  

Argo  Navis " 

Canobus  (called  later'Can- 

opus) " 

Eridanus 

Cetus 

Piscis  Notius " 

Corona  Australis " 

Ara .- 

Centaurus " 

Lupus " 

Hydra 

Crater 

Corvus...  " 


*  These  constellations,  not  being  recognized  by  the  B.  A.  Catalogue,  are  not  described  in 
this  Handbook;  the  stars  by  which  they  were  formed  are  inserted  in  the  constellations  irom 
which  they  were  taken. 


OLD  AND  NEW  CONSTELLATIONS  IN  CHRONOLOGICAL  ORDER. 


CONSTELLATIONS. 


WHEN  FIRST  CITED. 


Libra Manetho  (3d  century  B.  C.) ;  Geminus  (1st  century  B.  C.). 

Coma  Berenices Calliraachus  (3d  century  B.  C.) ;  Erasthosthenes  (3d  century  B.  C.) ; 

Con  on. 

Crux Hipparchus,  130  years  B.  C. 

Propus  (1  Geminorum) — 

Equuelus 

Praasepe 

Caput  Medusae " 

Antinous During  the  reign  of  Emperor  Adrian,  132  years  A.  D. 

Hercules Hyginus,  1485,  A.  D. 

Pavo John  Bayer,  1603,  A.  D. 

Toucan " 

Grus " 

Phoenix " 

Xiphias  or  Dorado 

Piscis  Volans 

Hydrus 

Chamaeleon " 

Apis 

Apus " 

Triangulum  Austral  is " 

Indus " 

Columba " 

Crux " 

*Musca Bartschius,  1624,  A.  D. 

Camelopardalus 

Monoceros already  mentioned  in  1564. 

Canes  Venatici Hevelius,  1660,  A.  D. 

Vulpecula " 

Leo  Minor " 

Lynx " 

Robur  Carol!  II Halley,  1677,  A.  D. 

Cor  Caroli  II 

Crux Augustin  Royer,  1679,  A.  D.,  already  mentioned  by  the  ancients, 

and  drawn  in  Bayer's  Atlas,  1603,  A.  D. 
Columba Generally  attributed  to  Augustin  Royer,  already  drawn  in  Bayer's 

Atlas. 
*Sceptrum  Brandenburgi- 

cum Godf ried  Kirch,  1688,  A.  D. 

Nubecula  Major Hevelius,  1690,  A.  D. 

Nubecula  Minor 

Camelopardalus.  .  "       already  mentioned  by  Bartschius. 

Lacerta 

Sextans  TJranise 

Scutum  Sobiesii 

*Triangulum  Minus " 

*Mons  Menalus Flamsteed,  1725,  A.  D. 

Apparatus  Sculptoris Lacaille,  1752. 

Apparatus  Chemicus " 

Horologium 

Reticulum 

*Ca3la  Scalptoris 

Pluteum  Pictoris 

*Pixis  Nautica 

Antlia  Pneumatica " 

*  These  constellations,  not  being  recognized  by  the  B.  A.  Catalogue,  are  not  described  in 
this  Handbook;  the  stars  by  which  they  were  formed  are  inserted  in  the  constellations  from 
which  they  were  taken. 


94  OLD  AND  NEW  CONSTELLATIONS  IN  CHRONOLOGICAL  ORDER. 


CONSTELLATIONS.  WHEN  FIRST  CITED. 

Octans Lacaille,  1752. 

Circinus " 

*NormaRegula " 

*Tubus  Astronomicus " 

*Microscopiuni 

Mons  Mensae 

*Tartus  Solitarius Lalancle,  1774,  A.  D. 

*Messium " 

*Rangifer Lemonnier,  1776,  A.  D. 

*Taurus  Poniatovvii Poczobut,  1777,  A.  D. 

*Telescopium  Herschelii . .  Hell,  1789,  A.  D. 

*Harpa  Georgii " 

*Quadrans  Muralis Lalande,  1795. 

*Honores  Freiderici Bode,  1798,  A.  D. 

*Machina  Electrica " 

*Offlcina  Typographica  . . .     " 

*Globus  Aerostatis Lalande,  1798. 

*Felis "        1799. 

*  These  constellations,  not  being  recognized  by  the  B.  A.  Catalogue,  are  not  described  in 
this  Handbook;  the  stars  by  which  they  were  formed  are  inserted  in  the  constellations  from 
which  they  were  taken. 


95 


NAMES  GIVEN  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  STARS. 


Achernar,  a  (alpha)  Eridani. 
Adara,  c  (epsilon)  Canis  Majoris. 
Albireo,  ft  (beta)  Cygnei. 
Alchiba,  a  (alpha)  Corvi. 
Alcyone,  ?j  (eta)  Tauri,  Pleiad. 
Aldebaran,  a  (alpha)  Tauri. 
Alderamin,  a  (alpha)  Cephei. 
Al-fard  or  Alphard,  a  (alpha)  Hydrae. 
Algeiba,  y  (gamma)  Leonis. 
Algenib,  y  (gamma)  Pegasi. 
Algol,  ft  (beta)  Persei. 
Algores,  8  (delta)  Corvl. 
Alhena,  y  (gamma)  Geminorum. 
Alioth,  e  (epsilon)  Ursae  Majoris. 
Alkaid,  or  Benetnash,  r/  (eta)  Ursse  Majoris. 
Alkes,  a  (alpha)  Crateris. 
Almach,  y  (gamma)  Andromedae. 
Alnihan,  e  (epsilon)  Orionis. 
Alphecca,  a.  (alpha)  Coronae  Borealis. 
Alpherat,  a  (alpha)  Andromedae. 
Alphirk,  ft  (beta)  Cepliei. 
Alshain,  ft  (beta)  Aquilae. 
Altair,  a  (alpha)  Aquilae. 
Alwaid,  ft  (beta)  Draconis. 
Antares,  a  (alpha)  Scorpionis. 
Baten  Kaitos,  £  (zeta)  Ceti. 
Bellatrix,  y  (gamma)  Orionis. 
Benetnash,  see  Alkaid. 
Betelgeuse,  a  (alpha)  Orionis. 
Canopus,  a  (alpha)  Argo  Navis. 
Capella,  a  (alpha)  Aurigae. 
Castor,  a  (alpha)  Geminorum. 
Cebalrai,  ft  (beta)  Ophiuchi. 
Chaph,  ft  (beta)  Cassiopeiae. 
Cor  Caroli  II,  a  (alpha)  Canum  Venatici. 
Cor  Hydrae,  see  Al-fard. 
Cor  Leonis,  see  Kegulus. 
Cor  Scorpionis,  see  Antares. 
Cursa,  ft  (beta)  Eridani. 
Deneb,  a  (alpha)  Cygni. 
Denebola,  ft  (beta)  Leonis. 
Diphda,  ft  (beta)  Ceti. 
Dog  Star,  The  (see  Sirius). 
Dubhe,  a.  (alpha)  Ursse  Majoris. 
Enif,  e  (epsilon)  Pegasi. 
Errai,  y  (gamma)  Cephei. 
Etanin,  y  (gamma)  Draconis. 
-Fomalhaut,  a  (alpha)  Piscis  Australis. 
Gemma,  the  Jewel  see  Alphecca. 
Gomeisa,  ft  (beta)  Canis  Minoris. 
Hamal,  a  (alpha)  Arietis. 
Homan,  £  (zeta)  Pegasi. 
Hyades,  in  Taurus. 
Izar,  e  (epsilon)  Bootis. 
Jewel,  The  (see  Alphecca). 
Kaus  Australis,  e  (epsilon)  Sagittarii. 


Kiffa  Australis,  a  (alpha)  Librae. 
Kiffa  Borealis,  ft  (beta)  Librae. 
Kochab,  ft  (beta)  Ursae  Minoris. 
Korneforos,  ft  (beta)  Herculis. 

-  Markab,  a  (alpha)  Pegasi. 
Mebsuta,  e  (epsilon)  Geminorum. 
Megrez,  8  (delta)  Ursae  Majoris. 
Menkalinan,  ft  (beta)  Aurigae. 
Menkar,  a  (alpha)  Ceti. 
Merak,  ft  (beta)  Ursae  Majoris. 
Mesartim,  y  (gamma)  Arietis. 
Mintaka,  8  (delta)  Orionis. 
Mira,  o  (omicron)  Ceti. 
Mirach,  ft  (beta)  Andromedae. 

-  Mirfak,  a  (alpha)  Persei. 
Mirzam,  ft  (beta)  Canis  Majoris. 

-  Mizar,  £  (zeta)  Ursae  Majoris. 
Muphrid,  r,  (eta)  Bootis. 
Nath,  ft  (beta)  Tauri. 
Nekkar,  ft  (beta)  Bootis. 
Phact,  a  (alpha)  Columbae. 
Phegda,  y  (gamma)  Ursae  Majoris. 

-  Pleiades:   Alcyone,  Electra,  Maia,  Merope, 

Taygete,  Atlas,  Pleione,  Celaeno,  Aste- 

rope. 

Propus,  l  Geminorum. 
Eas-Alhague,  a  (alpha)  Ophiuchi. 
Ras-Algethi,  a  (alpha)  Herculis. 
Regulus,  a  (alpha)  Leonis. 
Rigel,  ft  (beta)  Orionis. 
Rotanev,  ft  (beta)  Delphini. 
Sadalmelik,  a.  (alpha)  Aquarii. 
Sadalsund,  ft  (beta)  Aquarii, 
Salaphat,  y  (gamma)  Lyrae. 
Saidak.    (See  Alcor). 
Scheat,  ft  (beta)  Pegasi. 
Schedar,  a  (alpha)  Cassiopeiae. 
Secunda  Giedi,  a2  (alpha1*)  Capricorni. 
Sheliak,  ft  (beta)  Lyrae. 
Sheratan,  ft  (beta)  Arietis. 
Sirius,  a  (alpha)  Canis  Majoris. 
Skat,  8  (delta)  Aquarii. 
Spica,  a  (alpha)  Virginis. 
Sualocin,  a  (alpha)  Delphini. 
Talitha,  •.  (iota)  Ursae  Majoris. 
Tarazed,  y  (gamma)  Aquilae. 
Thuban,  o  (alpha)  Draconis. 
--Vega,  a  (alpha)  Lyrae. 
Vindemiatrix,  e  (epsilon)  Virginis. 
Wesat,  8  (delta)  Geminorum. 
Zaurac,  y  (gamma)  Eridani. 
Zavijava,  ft  (beta)  Virginis. 
Zosma,  8  (delta)  Leonis. 
Zuben  el  Chameli,  (see  Kiffa  Borealis). 
Zuben  el  Genubi,  (see  Kiffa  Australis). 
Zuben  Hakraki,  y  (gamma)  Librae. 


TH%  PRINCIPAL  BINARY  STARS. 


DESIGNATION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

PERIODS  OF 
REVOLUTION. 

COLORS. 

K  (Kappa)  Pegasi     

4-9 

11  years. 

White  and  purple. 

8  (Delta)  Equueli 

4  5-5 

12       " 

Both  white 

2  3130  Lyrae 

7  4  11 

16     " 

Both  white 

42  Comae  Berenicis  
8  Sextans                    .  .     .      .         .  •  •  • 

6-6 
5  6-6  5 

25      "     
33      " 

Both  white. 
Both  white 

£  (Zetd)  Herculis  

3-6 

3414  "     

Yellow  and  orange. 

2  3121  Cancri 

7  2-7  5 

39      " 

White  and  yellow 

r?  (Eta)  Coronas  Borealis  
2  2173  Ophiuchi  
Sirius                             

5.3-5.5 
6-6 
1-9 

41      "     
45      "     
49(9)" 

White  and  gold  yellow, 
Both  yellow. 
Both  white 

O2  527    

7-8 

54      " 

Bluish  and  white. 

y  (Gamma)  Coronae  Australis  
£  (Zeta)  Cancri  (trinary)  -J 
£  (Zi)  Ursae  Majoris 

5.5-5.5 
5.5-6.2 
5.5-6.6 
4-5 

55      "     
60      "     
COO      "     
60      " 

Gold-yellow. 
Both  yellow. 
Both  yellow. 
Yellow  and  ash  color 

O2  234  Ursae  Majoris  
O2  298  Bootis 

7-7.8 
774 

68      "...;. 

69      " 

Both  white. 
Both  white 

a  (Alpha)  Centauri               

1-2 

84(<?)" 

White  and  yellow 

70  Ophiuchi  

4  5-6 

90      " 

Yellow  and  rose. 

O2  ''35  UrsaB  Majoris 

6-7 

94      " 

Both  white 

v  (Gamma)  Coronae  Borealis  
£  (Zi)  Scorpionis  (trinary)  A  B 
2  2107  Herculis    

4-7 
5-5.2 
6585 

95      "     
96      "     

98      " 

Yellow  and  purple. 
Both  yellow. 
Yellow  and  blue 

2  3062  Cassiopeise  

6  5-7  5 

104      " 

Yellow  and  olive. 

(/>  (Phi)  Ursa  Maioris 

555 

115      " 

Both  yellow 

<o  (Omega)  Leonis.... 

6-7 

1°4      " 

White  and  blue 

v>5  Canum  Venatici 

6  7 

1°4      " 

White  and  blue 

£  (Zi)  Bootis    

4  5-6  5 

1°7      " 

Yellow  and  red 

4  Aquarii  

6-7 

130      " 

Both  yellow. 

02  (Omicron2)  Eridani  (trinary)...  BC 
i?  (Ma)  Cassiopeiae  
•y  (Gamma)  Virginis  

9.5-10.5 
4.2-7 
3-3 

139      "     
167      "     
175      " 

Both  yellow. 
Yellow  and  purple. 
Both  yellow. 

T  (Tau)  Ophiuchi                             .   . 

5  2-6 

218      " 

Both  white 

44iBootis  
jm2  (3fw2)  Bootis 

5.3-6 
6  5-8 

261      "     .... 
280      " 

White  and  ash  color. 
Both  white 

2  1757  Virginis  
36  Andromedae 

8-9 
6-7 

292      "     
316      " 

White  and  yellow. 
Orange  and  yellow 

S  (Delta)  Cygni  
2  1819  Virginis 

2.9-8 

7  8 

336      "     
380(9)" 

White  and  blue. 
Both  white 

M.  (M  u)  Draconis  
12  Lynx  (trinary)                           A  B 

5  5 
5  8-6  5 

648      "     
676      " 

Both  white. 
White  and  reddish 

<  (Zeta)  Aquarii  
Castor                   . 

3.5-4.4 
2  5-2  8 

800(?)u     

1  000        "      (about) 

White  and  green. 
Both  white 

97 


FINEST  COLORED  DOUBLE  STARS. 


STARS. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

DISTANCES. 

COLORS. 

y  (Gamma)  Andromedae  
Cor  Carol!  II                             

2.2-5.5-6.5 
3.2-5.7 

10"-0".5 
20" 

Orange,  sea  green  and  blue. 
Gold-yellow  and  lilac 

0  (Beta)Cygni  
e  (Epsilon)  Bootis  
95  Herculis  

3.4-6.0 
2.4-6.5 

5.5-5.8 

34" 
2".  9 
C" 

Gold-yellow  and  sapphire. 
Gold-yellow  and  blue. 
Gold-yellow  and  azure. 

a  (Alpna)  Herculis  

4  var.-5  .  5 

4".  7 

Orange  and  emerald. 

v  (Gamma)  Delphini  
32  Eridani 

3.4  6.0 

4  7-7 

11" 

G"  7 

Orange  and  green. 
Topaz  and  marine  blue 

e  (Epsilon)  Hydrae 

3  5-7  5 

3"  5 

Yellow  and  blue 

7  (Gamma)  Ceti  
£  (Zeta)  Lyrae 

3.2-7 
45-55 

3" 
44" 

Pale-yellow  and  blue. 
Yellow  and  green. 

t  (Iota)  Cancri                     

4.5-7 

30" 

Pale-orange  and  blue. 

6  Triangul.         .  .            

5.5-6.5 

3".  7 

Gold-yellow  and  bluish-green. 

Antares  
o  (Omicron)  Cygni  
24  Comae  Berenices  
o  (Omicron)  Cephei  

1.7-7 
4.3-7.5-5.5 
5.6-7 
5.4  8 

3".  3 
1'  47"-5'  38" 
21" 
2".  5 

Orange  and  green. 
Yellow,  blue  and  blue. 
Orange  and  lilac. 
Gold-yellow  and  azure. 

94  Aquarii  

5.5-7.5 

14" 

Rose  and  light  blue. 

39  Ophiuchi 

5  7-7.5 

12" 

Yellow  and  blue 

17  Virginis 

6.5-9 

20" 

Rose  and  red 

84  Virginis 

5  8-8.5 

3".  5 

Yellow  and  blue. 

41  Aquarii                         

5.8-8.5 

4".  8 

Topaz  and  blue. 

39  A  Eridani  
2  Canum  Venatici  
52Cygni  

5.2-9 
6.0-9 
4.6-9 

6".  4 
11" 

7" 

Yellow  and  blue. 
Gold-yellow  and  azure. 
Orange  and  blue. 

55  Piscium  

6.0-9 

6" 

Orange  and  blue. 

54  Hydras 

5  2-8 

9" 

Yellow  and  violet 

6G  Ceti 

6  5-8 

15" 

Yellow  and  blue 

I//  (Psi)  Draconis                    .  .  . 

4  8-G 

31" 

Yellow  and  lilac 

i)  (Eta)  Cassiopeiae  
o-  (Sigma)  Capricorn!  
v  (Nu)  Ursae  Majoris  
Rigel                                    

4.0-7 
5.7-10 
3.3-10 
1.0-9 

6".  7 
54" 
7" 
9".  5 

Gold-yellow  and  purple. 
Orange  and  lilac. 
Yellow  and  blue. 
White  and  blue. 

8  (Delta)  Herculis  
o  (Omicron)  Capricorn!  
17  Virginis 

3.6-8 
6.3-7 
6  5-9 

18" 
22" 
20" 

White  and  violet. 
Both  bluish. 
Both  rose 

FINEST  WHITE  DOUBLE  STARS. 


STARS. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

DIS- 
TANCES. 

STARS. 

MAGNI- 
TUDES. 

DIS- 
TANCES. 

Mizar 

2  4-tO 

14" 

y  (Gamma)  Leonis 

2  5-1  0 

3" 

Castor 

2.5-3.0 

5"  6 

|8  (Beta)  Scorpionis 

2  5-5  5 

13" 

y  (Gamma)  Virginis  
y  (Gamma)  Arietis 

3.0-3.2 
42-4.5 

5" 
8".  9 

9(Theta)  Serpentis  
44  i  Bootis 

4.4-5.0 
50-60 

2;:» 

£  (Z,eta)  Aquarii  

3.5-4.4 

3".5 

it  (Pi)  Bootis      

4.3-6.0 

6" 

STARS  FOR  WHICH  A  PARALLAX  HAS  BEEN  FOUND. 


Polaris 

v  (Nu)  Draconis 

y  (Gamma)  Draconis 

fji  (Mu)  Draconis 

<r  (Sigma)  Draconis 

2  1516  Draconis 

2  2398  Draconis 

17415  CEltzen 

H.  IV.  37,  Nebula. 


PAGE 
1 

..       2 

..       2 

3 


a  (Alpha)  Cephei 4 

a  (Alpha)  Cassiopeia G 

/3  (Beta)  Cassiopeiae 6 

y  (Gamma)  Cassiopeiae 6 

M  (M u)  Cassiopeiae G 

rj  (Eta)  Cassiopeiae G 

3077Bradley 6 

L  (lota)  Ursae  Majoris 13 

10  Ursae  Majoris 13 

1830  Groomb 14 

21185  Lai 15 

21258  Lai 15 

Arcturus IT 

Capella 20 

/3  (Beta)  Atirigge 20 

The  following  stars,  not  appearing  in  the  description,  have  been  observed  for  parallax 

by  Mr.  J.  C.  Kapteyn,  at  Leyden,  in  1891.  (Kevue  d'Ast.,  August,  1891.) 


PAGE 

85  Pegasi 23 

Deneb 25 

61  Cygni 27 

2  2486 27 

Vega 32 

a  (Alpha)  Herculis 34 

r,  (Eta)  Herculis 36 

n(Pi)  Herculis 36 

Altair 36 

TOOphiuchi 40 

Aldebaran 47 

Castor 49 

Pollux 49 

Regulus 52 

Betelgueuse 68 

Procyon 71 

Si  rius 73 

9352  Lac 77 

o2(Omicron2)  Eridani 80 

a  ( Alpha)  Centauri 85 

0  (Beta)  Centauri 85 

e  (Epsilon)  Indi 87 

<  (Zeta)  Toucani 91 


DESCRIPTION. 

MAGNI- 
TUDE. 

*  PARALLAX. 

PROPER 
MOTION. 

18115  Lalande 

7  4 

0//074±0'/027 

\"  69 

0  (Theta)  Ursae  Majoris 

3  0 

0"  052  ±0"  026 

\"  11 

19092  Lalande 

8  1 

0"  064  ±0"  022 

0"79 

20  Leonis  Minoris  

5.8 

0".062±0".029 

0".69 

1618  Groombridge 

7  0 

0"  176±0"  024 

1"  43 

1648  Groombridge  

6.3 

O'MOl  ±0".026 

0".89 

P.  X.  96  

7.4 

0".038±0".027 

0".27 

1812  Groombridge  

6.7 

0".030±0".027 

0".64 

1822  Groombridge 

8  0 

0"  016  ±0"  032 

0"67 

1855  Groombridge  

7.3 

0".056±0".034 

0".33 

*  See  the  note  page  x. 


STARS  OF  GREATEST  PROPER  MOTION. 


1830  Groombridge  in  Ursa  Major 7".03  per  year, 

9352  Lac.  in  Piscis  Notius 6".96       " 

61  Cygni 5".08       " 

21185  Lai.  in  Ursa  Major 4".69       " 

«  (Epsilon)  in  Indus 4".67 

n  (Mu)  Cassiopeiae 4".43 

21258  Lai.  in  Ursa  Major 4".37 

02  (Omicront)  in  Eridanus 4".10 

a  (Alpha)  Centauri 3".64 

1830  Groombridge  travels  6,425  million  miles  per  year  or  1,760,000  miles  per  day. 
02  Eridani  "        1,700  "  "  465,700 

61  Cygni  925  "  253,400 

a  Centauri  "  370  "  "  101,400 

These  figures  are  only  minima! 


SHOOTING  STARS-STAR-SHOWERS. 

The  shooting  stars  are  small  cosmical  bodies  appearing  suddenly  in  some 
portions  of  the  sky,  leaving  sometimes,  for  a  few  seconds,  a  luminous  train. 
They  become  visible  by  coming  in  contact  with  the  upper  part  of  our  atmos- 
phere, and  entering  it  with  a  velocity  of  from  10  to  50  miles  per  second. 

The  systematical  observations  of  the  shooting  stars  are  very  recent. 
Palmer,  after  the  extraordinary  star-shower  of  November  I2th,  1833,  remem- 
bered a  similar  apparition  observed  on  November  I2th,  1799,  by  Humboldt. 
November  I3th,  1866,  a  very  remarkable  shower  also  appeared.  The  period 
is  33  years. 

Mr.  Schiaparelli,  taking  into  consideration  the  great  velocity  of  these 
meteors,  thought  that  they  were  circulating,  like  the  comets,  in  regular  orbits 
around  the  sun.  He  calculated  the  paths  of  the  shooting  stars  of  the  loth  of 
August  and  of  the  I3th  of  November,  and  found  that  they  were  correspond- 
ing exactly  with  the  orbits  of  two  well-known  comets  —  the  one  of  the  roth  to 
nth  of  August  with  the  comet  of  1866,  and  the  other  with  the  great  comet 
of  1862. 

In  1872  the  earth  crossed  the  orbit  of  Biela's  comet  the  27th  of  November; 
a  splendid  star-shower  happened  that  day.  The  27th  of  November,  1885, 
another  one  appeared. 

Mr.  Coulvier-Gravier  noticed  that  the  shooting  stars  were  more  numerous 
in  the  morning  than  in  the  evening,  and  more  in  autumn  than  in  spring;  also 
more  in  the  east  than  in  the  west.  The  reason  for  this  was  given  by  A. 
Herschel  and  H.  Newton  as  the  result  of  the  double  motion  of  the  earth:  its 
rotation  and  its  annual  motion  around  the  sun. 

These  star-showers  seem  to  come  from  some  particular  portions  of  the 
heavens  called  the  radiant  points.  Mr.  Heis  is  the  first  one  who  published  a 
catalogue  of  these  points,  and  since,  many  others,  among  them  A.  Herschel, 
Tupman  and  Denning,  in  England;  Schmidt,  in  Greece;  Schiaparelli,  in  Italy, 
etc.,  added  their  own  observations. 

Though  every  year  does  not  bring  the  same  phenomena,  still  we  will  give 
the  dates  and  the  radiant  points  of  the  principal  showers,  as  they  are  capable, 
at  any  time,  of  offering  a  grand  spectacle  to  observers: 

IN  FEBRUARY.— i6th,  near  a.  (alpha)  Aurigae. 

IN  MARCH.— 7th,  near  /3  (beta)  Scorpionis  and  y  (gamma)  Herculis. 

IN  APRIL.— 9th,  near  n  (pi)  Herculis;  i6th  to  3oth,  near  rj  (eta}  Bootis;  igth  to  3oth,  near  104 
Herculis;  2gth  to  May  2d,  near  a  (alpha)  Aquarii. 

IN  MAY.— 22d,  near  a.  (alpha)  Coronse  Borealis. 

IN  JULY.— 23d  to  2$th,  near  /3  (beta)  Persei;  25th  to  28th,  near  \.(iota}  Pegasi;  26th  to  2Qth, 
near  8  (delta)  in  Piscis  Notius;  27th,  near  8  (delta)  Andromedae;  27th  to  29th,  near  S  (delta) 
Aquarii;  3ist,  near  a  (alpha)  Cygni;  2;th  to  August  4th,  near  /3  (beta}  in  Triangulum. 

IN  AUGUST.— 7th  to  nth,  near  \  (chi)  Cygni;  7th  to  i2th,  near  S  (delta)  Dragonis;  8th  to 
9th,  near  a  (alpha}  Cassiopeiae;  9th  to  nth,  near  17  (eta)  Persei.  (This  star-shower  is  sometimes 
beautiful,  and  is  known  as  the  Perseids.)  9th  to  i4th,  near  /3  (beta}  Ceti;  i2th  to  i3th,  near  3084 
Bradley;  i2th  to  i6th,  near  p.  (mu}  Persei.  (The  shooting  stars  of  this  part  of  August  are  named 


100  SHOOTING  STARS-STAR-SHOWERS. 


by  the  French  "  Lartnes  de  St.  Laurent" — St.  Lawrence's  Tears.)  2oth  and  25th,  near /u.  (mu) 
Persei;  2ist  to  23d,  near  o  (pmicrori)  Draconis;  23d  to  September  ist,  near  a.  (alpha)  Lyrae;  2$th  to 
3oth,  near  17  (eta)  Draconis. 

IN  SEPTEMBER.— 3d,  near  14  Andromedae;  3d  to  i4th,  near  ft  (beta)  and  y  (gamma}  in  the 
constellation  Pisces;  6th  to  8th,  near  e  (epsilon)  Persei;  8th  to  loth,  near  £  (zeta)  Tauri;  i3th,  near 
236  Piazzi  IV/i;  i$th  to  2oth,  near  ft  (beta)  Andromedae;  i^th  and  22d,  near  y  (gamma)  Pegasi; 
2oth  to  2ist,  near  42  Camelopardali;  2ist  to  22d,  near  a  (alpha)  Aurigiae;  2ist  and  24th,  near  ft 
(beta)  in  Triangulum;  2ist,  near  a  (alpha)  Arietis;  2oth  to  October  gth,  near  y  (gamma)  Arietis. 

IN  OCTOBER. — 7th,  near  a  (alpha)  Arietis;  8th,  near  17  (eta)  Persei;  igth  to  25th,  between 
a  (alpha)  and  ft  (beta)  Tauri,  near  y  (gamma)  Geminorum,  and  near  Pollux. 

IN  NOVEMBER.— (The  principal  star-shower  appears  on  the  night  of  the  i3th  to  the  I4th, 
near  *  (kappa),  in  the  constellation  Leo;  it  is  for  that  reason  called  Leonids.  The  maximum  of 
intensity  happens  every  33  years;  the  next  will  very  likely  occur  again  in  1899.)  ist  to  8th,  near  A, 
Tauri;  i6th  and  2$th  to  28th,  near  /u.  (mu)  Ursae  Majoris;  2oth  and  27th,  near  w  (omega)  Tauri; 
27th,  near  y  (gamma)  Andromedae  (this  shower  is  connected  with  the  Biela's  comet);  28th,  near 
a  (alpha)  Cephei. 

IN  DECEMBER.— ist,  near  17  (eta)  Persei;  ist  to  zoth,  between  a  (alpha)  and  ft  (beta)  Gemi- 
norum; 6th,  near  £  (zeta)  Tauri;  6th  to  i3th,  near  254  Piazzi  IX/i,  a  (alpha)  Geminorum,  and  i  (iota) 
Ursae  Majoris. 

According  to  Prof.  Simon  Newcomb,  the  average  number  of  shooting  stars 
falling  on  the  earth  is  no  less  than  146,000,000,000  (146  billions)  per  year! 

It  is  becoming  generally  admitted  that  aerolites,  bolides  and  shooting  stars 
are  of  the  same  origin  as  comets. 


101 


COMETS. 


Of  all  heavenly  bodies  none  attract  the  attention  of  the  public  so  much  as 
the  large  comets;  "their  rarity,  their  sudden  apparition  and  their  mysterious 
aspect  astonish  the  most  indifferent."  It  is  but  recently  that  their  orbits  have 
been  calculated,  and  the  return  of  Halley's  comet  was  a  complete  success  in 
the  history  of  astronomy,  in  proving  that  like  the  planets  and  all  other  celestial 
bodies  they  obey  the  great  law  of  gravitation. 

The  comets  cannot  be  recognized  by  their  appearance;  they  change  some- 
times very  quickly,  and  it  is  only  by  comparing  the  elements  of  their  orbits 
that  they  can  be  identified.  When  they  follow  an  ellipse  they  are  periodical; 
when  their  path  is  a  parabola  they  are  only  visitors  of  our  system  for  the  time 
being  and  disappear  forever. 

"In  common  language,  a  comet  consists  of  head  and  tail"  said  the  Rev.T.W. 
Webb,  but  for  astronomers  it  is  not  exactly  so.  The  brighter  part  is  called  the 
nucleus,  the  mist  around  the  nucleus  is  called  the  coma,  and  the  nucleus  and 
the  coma  form  what  is  generally  called  the  head.  The  tail,  which  is  merely  a 
prolongation  of  the  head,  is  always  in  the  opposite  direction  of  the  sun  at  the 
time  of  observation;  it  is  sometimes  straight,  sometimes  curved,  sometimes 
divided  in  two,  three  or  more  branches,  but  most  of  the  comets  that  become 
accessible  to  the  telescopes  are  only  faint,  filmy  masses,  without  heads  and  tails. 

Astronomers  are  yet  at  a  loss  as  to  the  nature  and  composition  of 
comets.  They  come  from  all  parts  of  the  heavens,  move  in  every  possible 
direction,  and  but  very  few  are  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  No  year  passes  by 
without  the  discovery  of  several,  and  Kepler  said  that  the  ocean  was  not  fuller 
of  fishes  than  the  aether  of  comets.  Babinet  called  them  "  des  riens  visibles" 
(visible  nothings),  and  John  Herschel,  in  "Outlines  of  Astronomy,"  said  that 
the  tail  of  a  large  comet  may  weigh  only  a  few  pounds  and  perhaps  only  a.  few 
ounces.  Stars  of  very  small  magnitude  are  often  seen  through  the  tail  and  even 
the  coma  of  the  comets  without  any  sensible  change  in  their  brightness. 

The  principal  periodical  comets  observed  are : 


1.  Encke period,  3  years,  105  days. 

2.  Tempell "      5     "        73    " 

3.  Crorsen "      5     "      169    " 

4.  Winnecke "      5     "      269    " 

5.  Tempelll "      6     "       


6.  Biela period,  6  years,  220  days. 

7.  D' Arrest "      6     "      235    u 

8.  Faye "      7     "      207    " 

9.  Tuttle "      13      "       296    " 

10.  Halley "     76     "       i 


In  1846  Biela's  comet  was  divided  in  two  parts  and  since  then  no  trace  of  it 
has  been  found.  The  27th  of  November,  1872,  a  beautiful  star-shower  was 
seen  and  identified  with  the  comet  Brorsen's  comet  should  have  returned  in 
1890,  but  was  not  seen.  It  is  probably  lost. 

August  ist,  1889,  Mr.  Barnard  discovered  four  satellite  comets  accompany- 
ing Brook's  comet  V.  1889. 

According  to  M.  Liais  the  earth  and  the  moon  passed  through  the  tail  of 
the  great  comet  of  1861,  on  the  3oth  of  June  of  that  year. 

The  comets  having  the  longest  tails  which  have  been  calculated  are  the 
great  comets  of 

1858,  which  had  a  tail  of 55,000,000  miles. 


1843,  which  had  a  tail  of 200,000,000  miles. 

1680,        "        "        "  ....150,000,000      " 

1847,         "         "         "  ....132,000,000      " 


1618,                                        ....  50,000,000 
1861,        "        "        "          42,000,000 


1811,  "  "  "  ....111,000,000  1769,  ....  40,000,000 

1882,  "  "  "  ....  70,000,000  "  j  1860,  "  "  "  ....  22,000,000 

*1887,  "  "  "  ....  70,000,000  "  i  1744,  "  "  "  ....  17,500,000 

*This  comet  was  only  visible  a  few  days  in  the  Southern  Hemisphere  from  the  18th  to 

the  29th  of  January,  length  of  the  tail  30°. 


102 


THE  PLANETS. 


The  planets,  being  celestial  bodies  revolving  around  the  sun  in  regular 
orbits,  can  not  be  described  among  the  constellations,  as  their  position  on  the  sky 
changes  every  day,  but  as  their  location  is  indicated  in  most  every  almanac  for 
every  month  of  the  year,  with  a  little  attention  they  can  not  be  mistaken  for  stars. 

The  moon  is  certainly  the  easiest  object  to  observe  with  a  telescope;  its 
remarkable  surface,  its  numerous  craters,  the  shadow  of  its  mountains,  are 
worth  seeing  at  any  time,  but  more  especially  near  the  first  quarter. 

The  sun  is  a  little  more  difficult  to  observe,  but  sometimes  the  spots  on  its 
surface  are  large  enough  to  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye. 

Mercury  is  only  visible  as  morning  or  evening  star,  and  never  appears 
farther  than  28  degrees  from  the  sun,  consequently  it  is  difficult  to  be  seen,  as 
it  appears  near  the  horizon  no  more  than  two  hours  before  sunrise  or  two  hours 
after  sunset.  With  the  aid  of  the  telescope  it  offers  same  phases  as  the  moon. 

Venus  is  the  brightest  planet,  brighter  than  Sirius,  and,  like  Mercury,  never 
passes  the  meridian  at  midnight ;  it  is  morning  or  evening  star,  and  its  greatest 
elongation  from  the  sun  never  exceeds  48  degrees;  the  smallest  telescope  will 
show  the  phases  of  Venus.  When  seen  for  the  first  time  by  a  student,  it  may 
be  easily  mistaken  for  the  moon;  it  shines  sometimes  four  hours  before  sunrise 
and  sometimes  four  hours  after  sunset. 

Mars  appears  like  a  red  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  and  its  color  will  help 
one  to  recognize  it  easily  among  the  constellations. 

Between  Mars  and  Jupiter  there  are  now  (February,  1892)  323  minor 
planets,  or  asteroids,  two  or  three  only  being  hardly  visible  to  the  naked  eye 
when  their  position  is  known.  The  first  one,  Ceres,  was  discovered  by  Piazzi, 
January  ist,  1801;  the  323d  by  M.  Max  Wolf.  (Revue  d'Ast.,  February,  1892). 

Jupiter  appears  as  a  beautiful  star  of  the  first  magnitude;  its  belts  and  its 
four  satellites  are  easily  seen  with  common  telescopes. 

Saturn  appears  as  a  dull  star  of  the  first  magnitude;  its  rings  and  its  largest 
satellite  are  accessible  to  ordinary  telescopes. 

Uranus,  discovered  by  W.  Herschel  in  1781,  is  visible  to  the  naked  eye  as 
a  star  of  the  sixth  magnitude  only,  and  difficult  to  be  found  without  knowing 
its  exact  position. 

Neptune  was  discovered  by  Le  Verrier  in  1846,  and  by  Adams  in  the  same 
year,  but  as  the  latter  made  his  calculations  public  after  Le  Verrier's,  the 
French  astronomer  has  the  glory  of  its  discovery;  it  is  never  visible  to  the 
naked  eye,  and  appears  as  a  star  of  the  eighth  magnitude. 


THE  PLANETS. 


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In  conclusion,  we  desire  to  say  that  our  Handbook  is  not  intended  for 
theoretical  astronomy,  but  merely  for  the  general  public  who  wish  to  obtain  a 
fair  idea  of  the  beauty  of  the  heavens  without  great  expense  of  time  and 
money,  and  in  its  compilation  we  have  drawn  from  the  works  of  S.  W. 
Burnham,  H.  Faye,  C.  Flammarion,  R.  A.  Proctor,  T.  W.  Webb  and  other 
noted  astronomers,  also  from  the  Revue  d'Astronomie  Populaire,  published 
monthly  since  1882. 

We  desire  especially  to  extend  our  sincere  thanks  to  Mr.  Burnham  for 
valuable  information  and  also  for  corrections  on  the  advance  proofs,  which 
were  submitted  to  him.  If  by  this  little  work  we  have  encouraged  our  readers 
to  pursue  further  this  beautiful  study  our  object  is  attained. 


105 


INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Illustrations  of  the  Principal  Double  and  Triple  Stars,  Binaries,  Trinaries,  etc. 


PAGE 

Polaris 1 

IT  (Pi)  Ursae  Minoris l 

v  (Nu)  Draconis 2 

0  (Omicron)  Draconis 2 

$  (Psi)  Draconis 2 

/3  (Beta)  Cephei 4 

8  (Delta)  Cephei 4 

*  (Kappa)  Cephei 4 

£  (Zi)  Cephei 4 

P.  XII.  230  Camelopard 5 

P.  IV.  269  Camelopard 5 

^  (Psi)  Cassiopeiae 6 

Y  (Gamma)  Andromedae 8 

6  Triangul 9 

e  (Epsilon)  Persei 11 

ri(Eta)  Persei 11 

£  (Zeta)  Persei 11 

e  (Theta)  Persei 11 

Mizar  and  Alcor 13 

£  (Zi)  Ursae  Majoris 14 

23fo  Ursae  Majoris 14 

Cor  Carol!  II 15 

e  (Epsilon)  Bootis 18 

7T(Pi)  Bootis 18 

t  (Iota)  Bootis 18 

£  (Zeta)  Coronae  Borealis   19 

o-  (Sigma)  Coronoe  Borealis . .  19 

4  w  (Omega)  Aurigae 20 

14  Aurigae 20 

12  Lynx 21 

38  Lynx 21 

IPegasi 22 

3  Pegasi 22 

1  e  (Epsilon)  Equuel 23 


PAGE 

Y  (Gamma)  Delphini 24 

2  2703  Delphini 24 

Albireo 27 

61  Cygni 27 

£  (Zeta)  Sagittae 32 

e  (Theta)  Sagittae 32 

Vega 33 

e  (Epsilon)  Lyrae 33 

a  (Alpha)  Herculis 35 

95  Herculis 35 

11  Aquilge 37 

15/i  Aquilae 37 

S  (Delta)  Serpentis 41 

0  (Theta)  Serpentis 41 

a  (Alpha)  Piscium 42 

£  (Zeta)  Piscium 42 

Y  (Gamma)  Arietis 43 

14  Arietis 43 

39  A2  Tauri 48 

Castor 49 

£  (Zeta)  Cancri 50 

Regulus 52 

Y  (Gamma)  Leonis 52 

Antares 59 

v  (Nu)  Scorpionis 59 

£  (Zi)  Scorpionis 59 

£  (Zeta)  Aquarii 63 

Rigel 68 

Trapezium  of  Orion 68 

8  (Delta)  Orionis 68 

<r  (Sigma)  Orionis 68 

11  Monocer 71 

Procyon 72 

Sirius .  73 


Illustrations  of  the  Principal  Clusters  and  Nebulae. 


DESIGNATION.                                    FA 
H.IV,37 

H.VI,30 

The  Great  Nebula  of  Andromeda 

M.97 

M.51 

M.3 

M.15 

The  Milky  Way  and  the  Nebulae 

The  "  Dumb-bell' '  Nebula 30, 

The  Ring  Nebula 

M.56 

The  Great  Cluster  of  Hercules 

M.ll 

The  "  Horse  Shoe"  Nebula 

M.  14 

M.5 

The  Pleiades 

The  "  Crab"  Nebula 

M.35 

The  Praesepe,  or  Bee  Hive 

M.  07... 


DESIGNATION.  PAGE 

M.  65 52,53 

M.  66 52 

H.I,  56 53 

A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  Virgo 56 

M.  59 56 

M.  60 56 

H.II,71 56 

H.II,74 56 

H.II,75 56 

M.  61 56 

The  "  Pinwheel"  Nebula 57 

A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  Sagittarius 61 

M.  30 62 

M.2 64 

H.IV,1 64 

The  Great  Nebula  of  Orion 69 

H.IV,2 71 

H.IV,27 76 

The  Great  Nebula  of  Argo  Navis 83 

The  Great  Cluster  of  Centaur 85 

The  Great  Cluster  of  Toucan ...  .91 


106  INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Diagrams,  Orbits  of  Stars,  etc. 

PAGE 

Diagram  Showing  the  Position  of  the  Celestial  Pole xii 

Orbit  of  2  3062,  Cassiopeise 6 

Diagram  Showing  the  Variations  of  Algol 10 

Apparent  Orbit  of  £  (zi)  Ursae  Majoris 13 

Real  Orbit  of  £  (zi)  Ursse  Majoris 13 

Rapid  Motions  of  three  Stars  in  Ursa  Major 14 

Diagram  Showing  the  Periodical  Variations  of  x 2  (chi  2)  in  Cygnus 26 

Diagram  Showing  the  Variations  of  the  Temporary  of  1876 26 

Diagram  Showing  the  Proper  Motion  of  61  Cygnei 27 

A  Portion  of  the  Milky  Way 28 

Holes  in  the  Milky  Way 28 

The  Milky  Way  and  the  Nebulae 29 

Apparent  Orbit  of  £  (zeta)  Herculis 35 

The  Milky  Way  in  Scutum  Sobiesii  and  Adjoining  Constellations 38 

Diagram  Showing  the  Variations  of  the  Temporary  of  1604 39 

Apparent  Orbit  of  70  Ophiuchi 40 

Real  Orbit  of  70  Ophiuchi 40 

The  Fourteen  Principal  Pleiades 45 

The  Pleiades,  from  a  Photograph 46 

Proper  Motion  of  the  Pleiades 46 

Diagram  Showing  the  Proper  Motion  of  Aldebaran  and  its  Companions 47 

Orbit  of  y  (gamma)  Virginis 55 

Proper  Motion  of  61  Virginis  since  Hipparchus 55 

A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  Virgo 56 

A  Field  of  Nebulae  in  Sagittarius 61 

Diagram  Showing  the  Separation  of  a  i  (alpha  i)  and  a  2  (alpha  2)  Capricorni  since  Hippar- 
chus   62 

Map  of  the  Southern  Constellations 66 

Orbit  of  Sinus 74 

Diagram  Showing  the  Variations  of  Mira 78 

Apparent  Orbit  of  a.  (alpha)  Centauri 84 

Real  Orbit  of  a  (alpha)  Centauri 85 

The  Constellations End  of  Book 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


PAGE 

Achernar vii,  79 

Adara 72 

Aerolites 1 00 

Air  Pump,  The  (see  Antlia  Pneumatica) . .    81 

Al-arnab  (see  Lepus) 80 

Albireo 26 

Alchiba 77 

Alcyone  (Pleiad) 45 

Aldebaraii vii,  44,  47, 92 

Alderamin 4 

Alepli 44 

Al-f  ard 7G 

Algeiba 52 

Algenib 22 

Algol 10 

Algores. 77 

Alliena 49 

Aliotb 12 

Alkaid 12 

Alkes 76 

Almach 8 

Alnihau 68 

Alpha  Centauri vii,  84 

Alpha  Herculis vii,  34 

Alphard 76 

Alphecca 19 

Alpherat 8,  22 

Alpbirk 4 

Alshain 37 

Altair vii,  36 

Altar,  The  (see  Ara) 86 

Alwaid 2 

Andromeda,  or  the  Chained  Lady 7, 02 

Angle ix,  x 

Angles,  distances  corresponding  to x 

Antares vii,  58 

Antlia  Pneumatica,  or  the  Air  Pump..  ..81, 93 

Antinous  36, 93 

Apis 89,93 

Apparatus  Chemicus 79, 93 

Apparatus  Sculptoris 77, 93 

Apus 90,  93 

Aquarius,  or  the  Water  Bearer 62, 92 

Aquila,  or  the  Eagle 36,92 

Ara,  or  the  Altar 86, 92 

Archer,  The 59 

Arctophylax 17 

Arcturus vii,  17, 92 

Argo  Navis,  or  the  Ship 82, 92 

Aries,  or  the  Ram 43 

Arneb 81 

Arrow,  The 31 

Ascension,  Right xi 

Asteroids 102,  103 


PAGE 

Asterope  (Pleiad) 45 

Astraea 53 

Atlas 45 

Auriga 20 

Balance,  The  (see  Libra) 57 

Baten  Kaitos 78 

Bear,  The  Great  (see  Ursa  Major) 12 

Bear,  The  Little  (see  Ursa  Minor) 1 

Bee,  The  (see  Apis) 89 

Bee  Hive,  The  (see  Praesepe) 50 

Bellatrix 68 

Benetnash. 12 

Berenice's  Hair,  Queen  (see  Coma  Bere- 
nices)      16 

Beta  Centauri vii 

Betelgeuse vii,  68 

Binary  Stars ix,  xiii,  96 

Bolides 100 

Bootes,  or  the  Herdsman 17,  92 

Bull,  The  (see  Taurus) 44 

Bull's  Eye,  The  (see  Aldebaran) 44 

Caela  Scalptoris 93 

Camelopardalus,  or  the  Camelopard 5,  93 

Cancer,  or  the  Crab 50 

Canes  Venatici,  or  the  Hunting  Dogs  . .  .15,  93 

Canis  Major,  or  the  Great  Dog 72,  92 

Canis  Minor,  or  the  Little  Dog 71 

Canopus vii,  83,  92 

Capella vii,  20,  92 

Capricornus 61,  92 

Caput  Medusae 11 ,  93 

Cassiopea,  or  the  Lady  in  the  Chair 5,  92 

Castor 49 

Cat,The(see  Felis) 94 

Cebalrai 39 

Celoeno  (Pleiad) 45 

Centaurus,  or  the  Centaur 84,  92 

Cepheus 4,  92 

Cerberus  and  Ramus 92 

Ceres 53 

Ceres  (Asteroid) 102 

Cetus,  or  the  Whale 78,  92 

Chained  Lady,  The  (see  Andromeda) 7 

Chamaelon,  or  the  Chameleon 89,  93 

Champion,  The  (see  Perseus) 10 

Chaph 6 

Charioteer,  The  (see  Auriga) 20 

Chariot  of  David  (see  Ursa  Major) 10 

Charles  II's  Heart  (see  Cor  Caroli  II) 15 

Chemical  Apparatus,  The  (see  Apparatus 

Chemicus) 79 

Chrysommallus  (see  Aries)  43 

Circinus,  or  the  Compasses ......   89,  93 

Claws  of  the  Scorpion,  The 58 

Clock,  The  (see  Horologium) 87 


108 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


PAGE 

Clusters ix 

Coal  Sack 28, 29,  89 

Coffin,  The  (see  Ursa  Major) 10 

Colomba,  or  the  Dove 81,  93 

Coma  Berenices,  or  Berenice's  Hair 16,  93 

Comets 100, 101 

Companions ix 

Compasses,  The 89 

Components ix 

Constellations,  Boundaries  of xiii 

Constellations  North  of  the  Zodiac l  to  41 

Constellations  South  of  the  Zodiac —  67  to  91 

Constellations,  Zodiacal 42  to  64 

Cor  Caroli  II 15, 93 

Cor  Hydrse  (see  Al-fard) 76 

Cor  Leonis  (see  Regulus) 52 

Corona  Australis,or  the  Southern  Crown  86, 92 
Corona  Borealis,  or  the  Northern  Crown  18, 92 

Cor  Scorpionis  (see  Antares) 58 

Corvus,  or  the  Crow 77,  92 

Crab,  The  (see  Cancer) 50 

Crab  Nebula,  The 47,  48 

Crater,  or  the  Cup . .  76,  92 

Graver,  The  (see  Xiphias) 88 

Cross,  The  (see  Crux) 89 

Crow,  The  (see  Corvus) 77 

Crown,  The  Southern  (see  Corona  Aus- 

tralis) 86 

Crux,  or  the  Cross 89,  93 

Cup,  The  (see  Crater) 76 

Cursa 80 

Cynosura l 

Cygnus 25,92 

Declination xi 

Delphinus 24,  92 

Deltoton 9,  92 

Deneb 25 

Denebola 52 

Dioscures 48 

Diphda 78 

Dipper,  The  (see  Ursa  Major) 12 

Distance  of  the  Planets  from  the  Sun —  103 
Distances  corresponding  to  certain  Angles    x 

Dog  Star,  The  (see  Sirius) 73 

Dog's  Tail l 

Dolphin,  The  (see  Delphinus) 24 

Dorado,  or  the  Graver 88 

Dove,  The  (see  Colomba) 81 

Draco,  or  the  Dragon 2,  92 

Dubhe 12 

Dumb-bell  Nebula 30 

Eagle,  The 36 

Easel,  The 88 

Ecliptic,  Pole  of xii 

Electra 45 

Elements  of  the  Solar  System 103 

Engonasi 92 

Enif 22 

Equinoxes,  Precession  of xi 

Equuelus,  or  the  Little  Horse 23,  93 


PAGE 

Eridanus,  or  River  Po 79,  92 

Erigone 53 

Errai 4 

Etanin 2 

Falling  Vulture,  The  (see  Lyra) 32 

Felis 94 

Finest  Double  Stars 97 

Fishes,  The  (see  Pisces) 42 

Fly,  The  (see  Musca) 9,  44,  89 

Flying  Fish,  The  (see  Piscis  Volans) 88 

Fomalhaut vii,  77 

Forest,  The  (see  Monoceros) 70 

Fornax,  or  Chemical  Apparatus 79 

Fox,  The  (see  Vulpecula) 30 

Galaxy,  The,  or  Milky  Way 28 

Garnet  Sidus  5 

Gemini,  or  The  Twins 48,  92 

Gemma 18 

Giraffe  (see  Camelopardalus) 5 

Globus  Aerostatis,  or  The  Balloon 94 

Goat,  The  (see  Capricornus) 61 

God's  Eye,  The 44 

Golden  Fleece,  The  (see  Aries) 43 

Gomeisa 72 

Goose,  The  (see  Grus) 87 

Great  Bear,  The  (see  Ursa  Major) 12 

Greater  Dog,  The  (see  Canis  Major) 72 

Grus,  or  the  Goose 87,  93 

Guaidian  of  the  Bear 17 

Guardians  of  the  Pole,  The l 

Hamal 43 

Hare,  The  (see  Lepus) 80 

Harp,  The  (see  Lyra) 32 

Harpa  Georgii 94 

Harpocrates 48 

Hen,  The  (see  Cygnus) 25 

Hercules 34,  93 

Herdsman,  The  (see  Bootes) 17 

Herseh 91 

Homari 22 

Honores  Freiderici 9,  94 

Horologium,  or  the  Clock 87,  93 

Horoscope,  The  (see  Horologium) 87 

Horse,  The  Little  (see  Equuelus) 23 

Horse,  The  Winged  (see  Pegasus) 22 

Horse  Shoe  Nebula 38 

Horns 48 

Hunting  Dogs,  The  (see  Canes  Venatici) .    15 

Hyades 44,  47,  92 

Hydra 75,  92 

Hydrus,  the  Male  Hydra,  or  the  Snake. 91,  93 

Illustrations,  Index  of 104 

Indian,  The  (see  Indus) 87,  93 

Indian  Bird,  The  (see  Apus) 90 

Indus,  or  the  Indian 87,  93 

Izar 18 

Jewel,  The  (see  Gemma) 18 

Jupiter v,  102,  103 

Jupiter  Ammon  (see  Aries) 43 

Jupiter's  Sons 48 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


109 


PAGE 

Karkinos  (see  Cancer) 50 

Kaus  Australia 60 

Ketos  (see  Cetus) 78 

Kiffa  Australis 58 

Kiffa  Borealis 58 

Kneeler,  The  (see  Hercules) 34 

Kochab 2 

Korneforos 34 

Lacerta,  or  the  Lizard 9,  93 

Lady  in  the  Chair,  The  (see  Cassiopea). . .      5 

Lagos  (see  Lepus) 80 

Leo,  or  the  Lion 51,  92 

Leo  Minor,  or  the  Little  Lion 15,  93 

Lepus,  or  the  Hare 80,  92 

Libra,  or  the  Balance 57,  93 

Lion,  The  (see  Leo) 51 

Lion,  The  Little  (see  Leo  Minor) 15 

Little  Bear,  The  (see  Ursa  Minor) 1 

Little  Dipper,  The  (see  Ursa  Minor) 1 

Little  Dog,  The  (see  Canis  Major) 71 

Little  Horse,  The  (see  Equuelus) 23 

Lizard,  The  (see  Lacerta) 9 

Lupus,  or  the  Wolf 86,  92 

Lynx 21,93 

Lyra,  or  the  Harp 32,  92 

Machina  Electrica 94 

Macula  Magellan* 89 

Magellanic  Clouds 91 

Maia  (Pleiad) 45 

Male  Hydra,  The  (see  Hydrus) 91 

Markat 22 

Mars  102,  103 

Mebsuta 49 

Medusa's  Head 11 

Megrez 12 

Menkalinan 20 

Menkar 78 

Mentes 61 

Merak 12 

Mercury 102, 103 

Merope  (Pleiad)  45 

Mesartim 43 

Messium 94 

Microscopium 94 

Milky  Way,  The 28 

Minor  Planets 102 

Mintaka 68 

Mira  78 

Mirach 8 

Mirfak 10 

Mirzain 74 

Mizar 12 

Monoceros,  or  the  Unicorn 70,  93 

Mons  Menalus 93 

Mons  Mensae 91 ,  93 

Moon,  The vi,  102, 103 

Motion  of  Stars,  Orbital ix 

Motion  of  Stars,  Proper ix 

Mount  of  the  Table  (see  Mons  Mensae). . .    91 

Muphrid 18 

Musea 9,44,89,93 

Names  of  Stars 95 

Nath 47 

Nebecula  Major 91 ,  93 


PAGE 

Nebecula  Minor 91,  93 

Nebulae ix,  xiii 

Nekkar is 

Neper  (see  Monoceros) 70 

Neptune 102, 103 

Norma  Regula 94 

Northern  Crown  (see  Corona  Borealis)  ..    18 

Octans,  or  the  Octant 91,  94 

Offlcina  Typographica 94 

Ophiuchus,  or  the  Serpent  Bearer 39,  92 

Orbital  Motion  of  Stars ix,  96 

Orion 67,  92 

Ornithos  (see  Cygnus) 25 

Orphos 78 

Paradise  Bird,  The  (see  Apus) 90 

Parallax x,  xiii 

Parthenos 53 

Pavo,  or  the  Peacock 90,  93 

Pegasus,  or  the  Winged  Horse 22,  92 

Perseus,  or  the  Champion 10,  92 

Phact 81 

Phegda 12 

Phoenice. 1 

Phoenix,  or  the  Phenix 87,  93 

Physical  System ix 

Pigeon,  The  (see  Cygnus) 25 

Pisces,  or  the  Fishes 42, 92 

Piscis  Notius,  or  the  Southern  Fish 77,  92 

Piscis  Volans,  or  the  Flying  Fish 88,  93 

Pixis  Nautica 93 

Planets,  The 102 

Planetary  Nebulae ix 

Pleiades 44,45,46,92 

Pleione 45 

Pluteum  Pictoris,  or  the  Easel 88,  93 

Pointers,  The 12 

Polaris 1 

PolarStar xii 

Pole  of  Ecliptic xii 

Pollux vii,  49 

Poniatowski's  Bull 40 

Potamos  (see  Eridanus) 79 

Praesepe 50,93 

Precession  of  the  Equinoxes xi 

Procyon vii,  71,  92 

Proper  Motion,  Stars  of  Greatest 98 

Propus,  l  Geminorum 48,  93 

Pulcherrima 18 

Quadrans  Muralis 94 

Queen  Berenice's  Hair  (see  Coma  Bere- 
nices)    16 

Ram,  The  (see  Aries) 43 

Ramus,  (see  Cerberus  and  Ramus) 92 

Rangifer 94 

Ras  Alhague 39 

Ras  Algethi 34 

Regulus vii,  xi,  52 

Reticulum,  or  The  Reticule 88,  93 

Rigel v,  vii,  68 

Right  Ascension x  i 

Ring  Nebula,  The 33 

River  Po,  or  the  River  (see  Eridanus) ....    7!) 

Robur  Caroli  II !•;; 

Rotanev ...  .    24 


110 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


PAGE 

Sadalmelik 03 

Sadalsund G3 

Sagitta,  or  The  Arrow 31,  92 

Sagittarius,  or  The  Archer CD,  92 

Salaphat 32 

Saturn v,  102, 103 

Scales,  The  (see  Libra) 57 

Sceptrum  Brandeuburgicum 93 

Scheat 22 

Schedar 6 

Scorpio,  or  The  Scorpion 58,  92 

Sculptor's    Shop,    The    (see   Apparatus 

Sculptoris) 77 

Scutum  Sobiesii,  or  Sobieski's  Shield.... 37,  93 

Sea  Goat,  The  (see  Capricornus) 61 

Sea  Monster,  The  (see  Cetus) 78 

Sea  Serpent  (see  Hydra) 75 

Secunda  Giedi 62 

Serpens,  or  The  Serpent 41,  92 

Serpent  Bearer,  The  (see  Ophiuchus)  —    39 

Sextans,  or  The  Sextant 75,  93 

Sheliak 32 

Sheratan 43 

Ship,  The ?'2 

Shooting  Stars 99 

Sickle,  The 53 

Sirius v,  vii,  73,  92 

Skat 03 

Snake,  The  (see  Hydras) 91 

Sobieski's  Shield  (see  Scutum  Sobiesii) ...    37 

Solar  System,  Elements  of  the 103 

Southern  Crown,  The  (see  Corona  Aus- 

tralis) 86 

Southern  Fish,  The  (see  Piscis  Notius). ..    77 
Southern  Triangle,  The  (see  Triangulum 

Australis) 90 

Spectrum  of  Sirius vii,  viii 

Spectrum  of  the  Sun vii,  viii 

Spectrum  of  a  (alpha)  Herculis vii,  viii 

Spica vii,  xi,  53,  92 

Square  of  Pegasus 22 

Stars,  Binary,  Trinary,  etc ix,  xiii,  9G 

Classification  of vii 

Colors  of vii,  xiii 

Double,  Triple,  Quadruple,  etc..ix,  xiii 

Finest  Colored  Double 97 

Fixed ix 

Irregula^?: ix 

Magnitude  of v,  vi 

Names  of 95 

Nebulous ix 

Number  of vi,  29 

Of  Greatest  Proper  Motion 98 

Parallaxes  of 98 

Proper  Motion  of ix 

Shooting 99 

Spectra  of viii 

Temporary ix,  xiii 

Variable ix 

Star-showers 99 

Stellar  Nebulae ix 

St.  Lawrence's  Tears 97 

Sualocin 24 

Sun,  The vii,  viii,  102, 103 


PAGE 

Swan,  The  (see  Cygnus) 25 

Talitha 13 

Tarazed 37 

Tartus  Solitarius 94 

Taurus,  or  the  Bull 44, 92 

Taurus   Poniatowskii,  or  Poniatowski's 

Bull 40,94 

Taygete  (Pleiad) 45 

Telescopium  Herschelii 94 

Temporary  of  945 7 

1265 7 

1572 7 

1604 39 

1670 20 

1690 60 

1848  40 

1860 59 

1866 19 

1876 26 

1885 8 

1886 7 

1892 21 

Themis 53 

Thuban 2 

Toucan 90,  93 

Trapezium  of  Orion 68 

Transits  of  Mercury 103 

Transits  of  Venus 103 

Triangle,  The  Southern  (see  Triangulum 

Australis) 90 

Triaugula,  or  the  Triangles 9 

Triangulum,  or  the  Triangle 9,  92 

Triangulum  Australis,  or  the  Southern 

Triangle 90,  93 

Triangulum  Minus 93 

Trinary  Stars vii 

Tubus  Astronomicus 94 

Turtle,  The  (see  Lyra) 32 

Twins,  The  (see  Gemini) 48 

Unicorn,  The  (see  Monoceros) 70 

Unukalhai 41 

Uranus 63, 102,  103 

Ursa  Major,  or  the  Great  Bear 12,  92 

Ursa  Minor,  or  the  Little  Bear l,  91 

Vega vii,  xii,  32 

Venus v,  102, 103 

Via  Lactea,  or  the  Milky  Way 28 

Vindemiatrix 54 

Virgo,  or  the  Virgin 53, 92 

Vulpecula,  or  the  Fox 30,  93 

Water  Bearer,  The  (see  Aquarius) 62 

Waterman,  The  (see  Aquarius) 62 

Wesat 49 

Whale,  The  (see  Cetus) 78 

Winged  Horse,  The  (see  Pegasus) 22 

Wolf,  The  (see  Lupus) 86 

Xiphias,  or  the  Graver 88,93 

Zaurac 80 

Zavijava 54 

Zodiacal  Constellations 42  to  64 

Zosma 52 

Zuben  el  Chamali 58 

Zuben  el  Geuubi 58 

Zuben  Hakraki...  .    58 


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